PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Save Substance Abuse Treatment in California
  1. Signatures
    257 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Your Governor (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Your Governor
      • Your State Senate
      • Your State House
  2. Created By
    Luis Lozano
    San Pedro, CA
About this Petition Petition Letter

Substance abuse treatment and prevention is under funded.  We are facing the elimination of Propostion 36 (The Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act 2000) this year.  This historic act was passed overwhelmingly by the voters of California.  It provided for treatment instead of incarceration for thousands of Californians and it has proven to be successful and cost effective.  Treatment is an effective way of reducing crime, it costs less to treat someone than it does to send them to jail or prison; it produces clean and sober individuals who then become tax paying citizens; it reduces health care and public assistance costs.  For every dollar invested in treatment we save $7.  Most important it saves lives, families and communities from the devastation of drug abuse and alcoholism.  Estimates are that one in ten people suffer from alcoholism or an addiction and that every addict affects 10 others directly.  By offering treatment we help reduce the negative effects of this disease and its' effect on society. 

Recent Signatures

Save Substance Abuse Treatment in California

Dear Representative

In these times decisions have to be made that are difficult for all of us. As you go about developing and prioritizing your budget decisions for California we the undersigned ask that you consider restoring and mainaining an adequate level of funding for Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Programs. Treatment and prevention are programs that save lives, families, communities and money. Estimates are that for every dollar we invest in treatment we save $7.
The costs of untreated substance abuse in our state is enormous but the savings from providing treatment far outweigh the costs. Alcoholism and drug addiction affect our criminal justice system, health care system, public social services, it destroys families and wrecks havoc on communities and businesses. Treatment costs less than incarceration and when successful it produces clean, sober and responsible citizens who pay taxes and contribute back to society.
In our country at least 10% of our population suffers from some sort of addiction. Each alcoholic or addict directly affects at least 10 other people. We all know someone who could benefit from treatment. Imagine having a loved one you know unable to access affordable treatment in your community. Yet this is what we are facing as programs are being forced to close due to funding. We cannot allow this to happen in California. For many years we had been the leaders in treatment for substance abuse through our low cost affordable treatment programs. Now we lead the nation in incarceration.
It is for these reasons that we ask that we fund alcoholism and treatment programs fully and help us restore our position as the leaders in the treatment of substance abuse once again.

[Your name]

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