Augusta – The ACLU of Maine released the following response to the governor’s budget proposal that would increase funding for a law enforcement response to Maine’s drug crisis, without increasing funding for treatment and prevention.
The following can be attributed to Alison Beyea, executive director of the ACLU of Maine:
“Thousands of Mainers suffering from addiction don’t have access to the help they need, yet once again Governor LePage’s response is to funnel money into arresting and incarcerating them. The governor's words about treatment and recovery ring hollow considering that on his watch there have been nothing but cuts to these critical programs. If Governor LePage truly cares about helping the people of Maine, he will stop pushing the failed war on drugs and start listening to the medical experts who say it’s time for a new approach.”
