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DUE TO CNMI’S TIGHT FINANCIAL SITUATION Castro thinks substance abuse is going to be a big issue in the coming months
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Posted on Apr 18 2023
Lawmaker asks conference committee to consider supporting funding for substance abuse, addiction, and rehab program
Rep. Manny Gregory Castro (Ind-Saipan) has asked members of the Senate and House of Representatives conference committee to consider support funding for the substance abuse, addiction, and rehabilitation program.
Castro, who chairs the Education Committee, pointed out at a special session in the House of Representatives last Friday that, given the tough economic times and hardships, it’s important that the Legislature assist efforts in the prevention of drug abuse and help those families that are currently in the program.
The Senate and House have formed a conference committee to hammer out a mutually acceptable legislation to revise the budget law for fiscal year 2023.
Having been to the HOPE Recovery Center site that day, Castro said he finds it really does need funding assistance, noting that there are many persons in the program that have “potential.”
Castro said the Senate version of a bill that seeks to revise the fiscal year 2023 budget law has slashed $100,000 that was originally intended for substance abuse and recovery program.
Castro said he has seen firsthand some government agencies that have full-time employees, yet there’s hardly any activity. “We really need to look at all the departments…because I don’t understand. If drug use and drug prevention is really important I don’t see the equitable support going there,” he said.
Castro underscored the need to look into the funding issue for the substance abuse, addiction, and rehabilitation program, saying substance abuse is going to be a big issue in the coming months, given the CNMI’s financial situation.
The lawmaker said he knows that his precinct, Precinct 2, is going to be directly affected with substance abuse problem and that it’s going to spread out to the other precincts if they don’t take care of the issue. Areas under Precinct 2 are Susupe and Chalan Kanoa
