CRAVINS: DETOX UNIT SHOULD BE PRIORITY

Closed UMC Department Didn't Make The Agenda For Session

LAFAYETTE - One of the most important state government issues for two
Acadiana lawmakers didn't make Gov. Mike Foster's list of 199 agenda items
for the special session that begins today.

"My priority right now is not even on the special session," said Sen. Don
Cravins, D-Arnaudville. "When we can't keep a detox center open at UMC, I
have more priorities than the Saints and the Hornets."

University Medical Center's First Step Detoxification Unit closed last
week. The unit treated people with acute health problems related to drug or
alcohol addiction. The LSU Health Care Services Division closed the unit to
save money in an increasingly tight budget for the state-run hospital system.

Cravins and state Rep. Clara Baudoin, D-Carencro, noted that Foster's
session call includes items such as deals to keep the National Football
League's Saints in New Orleans and to attract the National Basketball
Association's Hornets to New Orleans from Charlotte.

Also on the agenda: local road and bridge projects and tax-related issues,
controlling hydrilla growth in Henderson Lake and new license plate mottoes.

"All these issues are important to someone, somewhere, but do they need to
be in this special session at the cost of $30,000 a day when we're closing
the detox unit at UMC because lack of funding?" Baudoin asked.

The Advertiser's Capital Bureau reported Sunday that the total cost of the
session for both chambers may actually be as high as $55,000 a day.

Cravins said he hopes to put out the word about the need for UMC's detox
center at the special session.