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" My name is frank Wallace. In March of 2006 I entered Haymarket House after 25 years of substance abuse issues. I implore you to stand up for programs like Haymarket. Without them we the suffering addicts would have literally no place to turn. Take it from an ex-addict, we will, and do, resort to any means to get our "Fix" including criminal activities against innocent victims. Haymarket gave me back the option to choose a better way and I am forever grateful. That is why I have chosen to take up working as an addictions counselor. To help the next person seeking help and to show them the way out. I have had my last drink and drug and I will find a way to survive, but what will the addict that still suffers do? I don't know! I can only hope and pray that he doesn't kill himself or somebody else in the process. Do the right thing and help restore funding to treatment centers like Haymarket. Our society can’t afford to lose them, in more ways than you can even imagine. "

" And I know many people who have had numerous treatment for cancer, diabetes, heart disease. So let's not bother giving them another shot at treatment either. Love your "logic." Great analytical skills "

" your impression is the least of my concern. Seeing taxpayer dollars put to work where they benefit the most people however is one of my main concerns. I have a family member who is a substance abuse counselor and I have an insight on how the state gets billed by companies such as Chestnut Healthcare. Instead of making pompaus posts in response to serious issues, I suggest you do a little research on this topic. Worse case scenario is that you may learn something, or would that be detrimental to your psyche? "

" wow...I bet you worked ALL week looking for a blog where you could use the word recidivism...should I be impressed, because I am most certainly not by your less than insightful post. "

" I agree with BB. The addicts CHOOSE to try the junk in the first place. It is a moral weekness. One has to get their priorities straight. Seems like these addicts.. be it booze, cigs or illegal drugs, have that as their number one. God, family and work just get in their way of their own happiness. "

" is your local county jails. When drug addicts and I am including heroin addicts get arrested and are thrown in jail, do you think they get the benefit of detox? The answer is NO. They sit in cells and go through the DTs and other symptoms that come along with sobriety. This does not involve expensive drugs to counteract the illegal drugs these people have been pumping into their systems for who knows how long, and the suicide rate for addicts locked up is extremely low. The medical profession has the public duped into thinking addicts all suffer tremendously and physically when they dry out to the point they need special care. I loathe gov. blowdryer but this is one cut he made that is a smart one. I know dozens of people who have checked into rehab, spent months inside and came out and are right back on drugs. This for many is a vacation where they can get free room and board. Of course the taxpayers pick up the tab. If rehab is so great why do they have such a high rate of recidivism? People have to want to stay clean, and they obviously choose not too. "

" Billy Bob, thanks for your medical analysis of addiction. Thjat med school education really paid off. Even ignorant individuals realize that no one "chooses" to become addicted. The fact that the medical community has long recognized that addiction is a MEDICAL condition has been long accepted. Except, of course, by esteemed medical experts such as yourself. Now, if we treat people who want to kick their addiction, they might work and pay taxes, stay out of prison and tend to their children. Why would we want them to do that? "

" A great portion of health care funding goes to fund addiction care. An addiction is a self enduced illness. It is not viral or bacterial. Self enduced meaning "I CHOSE to get addicted to drugs or alcohol or tobacco. Hardworking tax payers are not and should not be burdoned with the expense of self inflicted deseases. I would rather spend my tax dollars on care for the elderly or research for a cure of cancer. Don't whine to me about someones poor choice of "recreational" addictions. "

" Telling people they are addicted just gives them an excuse to continue their ways. They can keep doing what they do because they "feel" they have a problem that they can not overcome. "Addiction" is a moral weakness. If you actually do become physically addicted and there is no way to stop your habit (impossible), it is still your fault for starting in the first place. Any habit can be kicked anyway. Mind over matter. I am sick of paying ANYTHING for addicts. This "cut" doesn't go far enough. Good work on this Rod, but there is more to be done! "

" Another fine example of the single-party political system in America. "

" Gov. Blowdryer does not do anything with tax dollars unless he gets his fair share. So with his insistence on Health Care I have to wonder who is paying him off? This is the Democratic Party we are talking about the party who is for healing, are addicted people not sick? It seems to me that the hypocrocy of the democrats surely are shining through on this one and if the rehab centers would have been more generous with kickbacks to the gov. they would have the funds and not the HMOs. Funny how the Chicago democrats work isn't it? "

" I am gonna get a pistol and when some crackhead tries to steal from me to support his 'poor' addiction, I'll shoot 'em in the head. They will be cured of the addiction without needing rehab and they won't fall of the wagon. (notice I used no gender specific pronouns.) "