More on the cut in recovery funding

I just reread my post from Saturday (just scroll down two posts beneath this one to see it) , and I am still mighty ticked off about this proposed cut.

OK, so I guess, the O'Malley Administration and all state legislators who say they give a poop about drug and alcohol treatment can still say this isn't really a cut.  As the article indicates, it's the end of some Federal funding to the state that the state isn't choosing to continue.

Nevertheless, the funding won't be there to provide these much-needed services.

If Howard Countians, indeed, all Marylanders, let this stand it is an outrage.  And our state legislators nothing less than gutless hypocrites. 

Unless, of course, drug and alcohol treatment and prevention are no longer problems in this state?  Since now, after all, the MVA and the courts have tag-teamed to help rehabilitate drunk and drugged drivers?  And of course, all the drug-related murders in Baltimore City, Prince Georges County, and all over Maryland have stopped.  And there aren't any teenage or child addicts.  Since no babies are being born addicted to the drugs their mothers ingest through their umbilical blood.

I am mega-pissed about this, true believers.  Today moreso than most days, this is an issue to me that really, really matters. 

What am I going to do about this whole thing?  Working in it.  Stay tuned.  But I'm just one guy.  I strongly suggest that you contact your legislators now and make sure the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration is fully funded.  Again, Saturday's post shows you how.

Comments

[Harry Schwarz]

Apparently, it's not as simple as the article made it appear. I was also shocked that this was happening, and raised the question at the Association of Community Services breakfast meeting with our County Delegates and Senators. It sounds like there will not be a decrease in State funding but rather a shift in the method of funding as part of the process of creating better continuity between addiction and mental health services. The latter is a laudable goal. I think it bears closer scrutiny. Think you for raising the issue - it's obviously an important one that gets all too little attention.