MASSIVE cuts to drug and alcohol treatment budgets across Barnsley are costing lives, an addiction treatment provider has warned.
UK Addiction Treatment believes ‘smoke and mirror’ tactics are being used to force Barnsley Council into spinning more plates with less money, after it obtained figures showing the authority’s drug and alcohol treatment budgets have been slashed by more than £2m in four years.
The data, released under a Freedom of Information request, reveals the council spent £5,289,748 of its public health grant on substance misuse strategies in 2013/14, but budgets for this financial year have been cut to £3,092,241.
That means the council is spending £2,197,507 less, which is a 42 per cent cut, compared to four years ago.
For support with drug, alcohol or any other addiction, visit www.ukat.co.uk/addictions-we-treat or call 0808 163 3559.
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