Cuts to addiction treatment hurt us all

Recent cuts to substance abuse treatment providers will be devastating to our communities. At this time there is a four- to six-week waiting period for men and women seeking residential care at Serenity House in Addison. These cuts will result in longer waiting periods for much-needed addiction treatment.

Untreated addiction will have the following consequences: increased crime; lost worker productivity; fatal vehicle crashes; higher insurance premiums; school dropouts; increased teen pregnancies; increased child abuse and domestic violence.

The list goes on. Eventually we will be paying more for law enforcement, hospital emergency care, and the morgue.

We need more addiction treatment dollars. We must let our state representatives know the impact these cuts will have.

David Tews

President/CEO

Serenity House

Addison