Layoffs Hit Colorado Programs for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Colorado lawmaker Pettersen expressed concern over Trump's staffing cuts to organizations that aid Coloradans with mental health or drug problems.
A federal agency handling substance abuse and mental health has undergone layoffs, affecting hundreds of employees working on disaster preparedness and disease outbreaks at the Department of Health and Human Services.
This includes approximately 100 staff members at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
"We finally were moving in the right direction with the first year, we started to see a reduction in overdose deaths last year," said Seventh District Rep. "Now they're dismantling the very systems that have helped support people to get the treatment that they need.
The layoffs occurred amidst a congressional deadlock over a government shutdown, involving both Republicans and Democrats.
Author's summary: Layoffs affect Colorado substance abuse and mental health services.