Published: May 19, 2008 11:39 am            

Letter: Support increased funding for substance abuse treatment

Editor:

There are a growing number of people in Illinois who are waiting for alcohol and drug abuse treatment. The Illinois General Assembly can help solve this problem before it adjourns in May by including money in the new state budget to expand treatment.

A new report by the Survey Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that the number of Illinois adults and youths waiting for treatment in 2008 rose to 7,540 up 17 percent, from 6,467 in 2007.

Thousands of people struggle with drug or alcohol addiction each day in Illinois, but only a small percentage are able to access crucial, time-sensitive care because the state is woefully underfunding treatment. Without additional funding, the situation will get worse.

Substance abuse treatment works best when an individual is ready and seeks treatment services. Turning people away at the door, making them wait sometimes as long as 30 days for treatment, is unacceptable and leads to crises for the individual and the community.

State Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, D-Evanston is sponsoring legislation, Senate Bill 2886, to increase drug treatment funding by $41 million in this year’s budget. The state must invest $41 million this year to provide care to the growing number of untreated Illinois residents.

Without adequate treatment funding, individuals who need treatment will continue to struggle with their addiction, affecting communities across Illinois with the costs of increased crime, emergency room visits and other social costs that arise from untreated addiction.

Illinois residents must contact their state legislators today and tell them to support increased funding for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment.

Sara Moscato Howe

CEO, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association

        

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