Governor Bruce Rauner’s budget plan would close the state’s deficit without a tax increase. It would also cut funding to several human services programs including addiction treatment services.
Almost eight thousand people could be denied addiction treatment under the governor’s proposal. Eric Foster, with the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, says that the issue affects more people than just those who need treatment.
"Every single individual in the state can think of one person that they know that’s struggled with a problem with alcohol or drugs. Your neighbor, an aunt, an uncle, a grandparent, a friend of a friend, a coworker. The addiction itself is so powerful that it prevents them from being a productive member of society."
The governor says difficult choices have to be made to close the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall.
