Budget cuts assault common sense

Governor Rod Blagojevich's recent veto of $55 million in funding for substance abuse treatment in Illinois, which the state is to lose an additional $55 million in federal matching funds, will be devastating on addiction treatment services.

The $110 million eliminated from Illinois' $252 million substance abuse prevention and treatment budget means that funding levels for these services are 43 percent lower than last year.

The Illinois House responded to the Governor's vetoes by overriding $43 million of the cuts, but the Illinois Senate has yet to follow suit.

This is a massive resource reduction. It effectively annihilates the comprehensive treatment system that has served people requiring clinical services for over three decades.

The Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Association estimates that the cuts will mean over 40,000 people will lose access to treatment.

Intake at treatment facilities is already beginning to slow or cease, and people are being turned away in their greatest moments of need.

Untreated addictions do not affect only those who are addicted. There are far-reaching emotional, social, fiscal and safety consequences, including increased crime, vehicle crashes, insurance premiums and health care costs associated with emergency room visits, teen pregnancies, child abuse, and domestic violence, to name just a few.

Community Renewal Society's work with religious congregations to reform our system of justice confirms that the children, spouses, and communities closest to those with addictions bear the heaviest burdens exacted by the decision to cut these critical funds.

Rest assured, we will all be paying the exponentially higher costs associated with the unwise and tragic transfer of people with clinical needs to the criminal justice system.

These budget cuts are an assault on common sense, and the 'savings' will end up costing us all.

Rev. Calvin S. Morris

Executive Director

Community Renewal Society

Chicago