CUTS WOULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES

As I read public comments about the state's proposed cuts to human
services, one thing is clear -- few grasp that by cutting these
services it will cost them and the state more. Yes, more.

Since many appear unmoved about those who will lose critical social
services that improve health and safety, I'd like to paint a
different picture that might get their attention -- one that includes
cold, hard cash.

Let's take drug abuse prevention and treatment, for instance, and
look at what will happen if these programs are drastically cut. For
every dollar spent on prevention programs, Illinois taxpayers save
$10 in treatment and recovery costs. Every dollar spent on treatment
yields more than $7 savings in decreased crime (38 percent less
following treatment) and productivity alone. Those savings will be
lost and additional costs incurred.

Illinois already spends more than $262 million a year housing
juvenile and adult drug offenders. The state's law enforcement,
judicial and prison costs will skyrocket as more people will end up
in that system instead of in a human services system.

Schools will be especially hard hit with the issues that come with
student and family drug use such as lower academic achievement,
dropouts and behavior problems. Families and communities will be
affected by more domestic violence, sexual assaults, crime, accidents
and increased health-care costs. Hospitals will face more emergency
room visits.

In short, more people will begin using drugs and those already using
will be less likely to stop because there will be fewer programs to
prevent it. The programs that remain will be limited by bare-bones funding.

Before people consider throwing drug abuse prevention and treatment
programs, and other critical human services, under the bus, they need
to understand the economics of what will happen if they do. We can
pay less now or we can pay much more in the immediate future to deal
with the consequences of increased drug use in our families and
communities. I hope everyone will get the point before it's too late.

Karel Ares Executive director Prevention First Springfield