State Budget For Addiction Treatment Defunded by $8.5 Million by NC Republican Led State Legislature

This was sent to me by a mental health practitioner.  

Gee: I just had someone tell me yesterday that they thought that their 16 yr old grandson who is in repeated legal difficulties needed some extended Alcohol and Drug (A & D) Treatment.  

Good luck. 

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Dramatic Reduction in Funding for Substance Abuse Services in NC

Please be aware that the state budget includes a reduction of substance abuse funding of $8.5 million dollars beginning July 1, 2012. Advocates, persons served, providers and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to contact their legislators immediately. Ask them if they are aware of the ramifications of this in their communities.

 What does this mean? 

Untreated addiction will result in:

Increased emergency room visits

Increased admissions to psychiatric hospitals

Increase in the prison population

Increased homelessness

Reductions to an already fragile substance abuse treatment system will result in:

Decreased choice for individuals and their families seeking treatment options

Lost jobs for providers

Programs will close their doors

 What action can you take? 

The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) reduction will not impact the Medicaid shortfall and no one anticipated the dire consequences that will result in these budget reductions. This will immediately become a crisis for individuals, families, communities and services.

  Please contact at least one of your Senators or Representatives on the Appropriations Committee by Monday, June 25th  to express your concerns regarding the impact these reductions will make.

Contact information can be found below:

 Senate Appropriations / Base Budget 

 House Appropriations  

 Senate Appropriations on Health and Human Services 

 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services