(Springfield, IL) – On Friday, Illinois’ alcohol and drug prevention and treatment providers learned from Governor Pat Quinn’s administration that Quinn is eliminating all state funding for non-Medicaid drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services beginning on Tuesday, February 22, triggering provider plans to discharge 55,000 out of 69,000 drug and alcohol treatment clients and to lay off more than 5,000 private sector workers.

“Department of Human Services Secretary Michelle Saddler telephoned me on Friday morning to say that all state non-Medicaid funding, which covers 80% of our clients, is being eliminated and providers would be notified on Tuesday,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, whose group backed Quinn’s successful effort to increase the income tax to protect Illinois Human Services.

“Governor Quinn had pushed to increase the income tax to save Illinois human services,” said Howe. “The Governor’s pledge to protect the most vulnerable in Illinois has been a cruel hoax.”

Though the contract cut notifications from Quinn will have a March 15 effective date, Howe says that date is arbitrary.

“The notices will contain an amended contract amount and the state will not approve any bill above that amount, making the March 15 date meaningless,” said Howe.

“Thus, the cuts begin on Tuesday and it will start triggering layoff notices and client discharges, creating multiple medical risks involved in the sudden disruption of a client’s addiction treatment,” stated Howe.

Howe said prevention and treatment advocates will once again turn to the legislature to protect the vulnerable and fragile men, women, children, and communities served

“In past funding crises, the legislative leaders–Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, Leader Tom Cross and Leader Christine Radogno–have championed our clients and demonstrated bi-partisanship in our behalf,” said Howe.

“Additionally, many rank-and-file Democratic and Republican lawmakers have supported the work we do, lawmakers such as: Representatives Sara Feigenholtz, Greg Harris, Deb Mell, Chapin Rose, Rosemary Mulligan, Patti Bellock, Jim Watson, Dennis Reboletti, and Senators Mattie Hunter, Heather Steans, Terry Link, A.J. Wilhelmi, Maggie Crotty, Chris Lauzen, Carole Pankau, and Kirk Dillard, and we are calling upon them for help,” said Howe.

In addition to the fiscal year 201180% mid-year budget cut, Quinn’s newly unveiled fiscal year 2012 budget also eliminates $55 million or 55% of state funding from the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse for prevention and treatment which will reduce the number people receiving treatment from 69,787 this year to 13,957 next year. As recently as fiscal year 2007, the state served 98,000 people.  Quinn’s proposed budget also eliminates addiction prevention services for 229,536 youth.

Currently, untreated addiction costs the State of Illinois $3.5 billion a year. Increases in health insurance rates, incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, domestic violence, on-the-job accidents, lost worker productivity, school drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, and traffic accidents and fatalities are all attributable to untreated addiction, says Howe.

“Crime rates, domestic violence incidents, and traffic accidents will explode across Illinois, starting next week,” said Howe. “Governor Quinn will have to answer for the consequences.”

“We urge the General Assembly to reverse Quinn’s callous cuts to the addiction healthcare system and prevent a doomsday that will decimate Illinois communities.”