Missouri Gov. Cuts Addiction, Mental Health Services February 18, 2005
Funding Tips & Trends
Thousands of people in need of substance abuse and mental health treatment will lose services if Missouri Gov. Matthew Blunt's 2006 budget is approved, the Joplin Independent reported Feb. 16.The plan would slash $41 million from the Missouri Department of Mental Health and reduce federal money for alcohol and other drug abuse treatment and mental health services by $20 million and $24 million, respectively, as a result of the loss in block-grant matching funds.
Under the 2006 budget, approximately 11,050 people would lose alcohol and other drug abuse treatment services, and more than 14,000 would lose treatment for mental illness. An additional 24,000 patients in need of mental retardation and disability services would go untreated.
The planned budged would also eliminate state suicide-prevention programs and community-based psychiatric care for criminals receiving alcohol and other drug abuse through the court-referral system.
