Families of drug addicts call for reason
Funding for the already underfunded and understaffed centers combating drug addiction slashed- families horrified
Back in August, the Greek government announced a 50% budget cut for KETHEA, the small but often successful centers combating drug addiction. On top of this, KETHEA were asked last week to identify 10% of their staff as redundant. KETHEA declined, answering that they are woefully understaffed.
This is an open letter of the addict΄s families
Open letter to Health and Solidarity Minister, Mr A. Loverdos and Finance Minister Mr Venizelos, by the Associations of the Families of the Centers Against Addiction. (KETHEA)
Athens, September 6th, 2011
We were shocked to find out that the Greek state has decided to slash funding for KETHEA centers all over the country. We are full of anxiety for the future of our children and of thousands of people suffering from addictions.
As representatives of the Associations of KETHEA families, with more than 10.000 families as members, we stand by our children and we voluntarily support the work of KETHEA, helping our family members get a second chance in life, addiction-free and integrated into society. In our struggle, we witness on a daily basis KETHEA΄s unequal battles, waged despite inadequate funding and lack of personnel.
In August, the Finance Ministry, decided not only to withold the 23 million euros, absolutely necessary for the functioning of KETHEA, that were included in the Health Ministry budget, but, also to definively slash slightly more than half of this amount(11,7 million), bringing KETHEA to a dead end. This decision hurts programmes combatting addiction and re-insertion of cured users into society, violently depriving thousands of young people of their right to live and throwing them back to the streets, to the margins of society, to jail, and may be also to death. The state is offering subsitute substances as an alternative, thereby perpetuating the addiction. A drug subsitute is no cure, it just prolongs addiction to legal and illegal substances.
We, who watch our kids wage and win the battle for life every single day, will safeguard their right, and the right of other kids who are still addicted, to a better future through communities combatting addiction.
We plead to the Ministers not to slash funding for KETHEA. There can be no cut backs to human lives.
Associations of Families of Centers Against Addiction KETHEA
KETHEA Paremvasi ATHENS
KETHEA Ithaki THESSALONIKI
KETHEA Strofi ATHENS
KETHEA Pleysi ATHENS
KETHEA Exodos & Pilotos LARISSA-VOLOS
KETHEA Diavasi ATHENS
KETHEA Nostos PEIREUS
KETHEA Kivotos ALEXANDROUPOLIS
KETHEA Kivotos KAVALA
KETHEA Ariadni HRAKLEION
KETHEA Oxygono PATRAS
KETHEA Kyttaro KALAMATA
KETHEA Ioanninon IOANNINA
Press inquiries:
Michalis Logothetis, Association of Families, KETHEA Diavasi, 6932 235002
This is an open letter of the addict΄s families
Open letter to Health and Solidarity Minister, Mr A. Loverdos and Finance Minister Mr Venizelos, by the Associations of the Families of the Centers Against Addiction. (KETHEA)
Athens, September 6th, 2011
We were shocked to find out that the Greek state has decided to slash funding for KETHEA centers all over the country. We are full of anxiety for the future of our children and of thousands of people suffering from addictions.
As representatives of the Associations of KETHEA families, with more than 10.000 families as members, we stand by our children and we voluntarily support the work of KETHEA, helping our family members get a second chance in life, addiction-free and integrated into society. In our struggle, we witness on a daily basis KETHEA΄s unequal battles, waged despite inadequate funding and lack of personnel.
In August, the Finance Ministry, decided not only to withold the 23 million euros, absolutely necessary for the functioning of KETHEA, that were included in the Health Ministry budget, but, also to definively slash slightly more than half of this amount(11,7 million), bringing KETHEA to a dead end. This decision hurts programmes combatting addiction and re-insertion of cured users into society, violently depriving thousands of young people of their right to live and throwing them back to the streets, to the margins of society, to jail, and may be also to death. The state is offering subsitute substances as an alternative, thereby perpetuating the addiction. A drug subsitute is no cure, it just prolongs addiction to legal and illegal substances.
We, who watch our kids wage and win the battle for life every single day, will safeguard their right, and the right of other kids who are still addicted, to a better future through communities combatting addiction.
We plead to the Ministers not to slash funding for KETHEA. There can be no cut backs to human lives.
Associations of Families of Centers Against Addiction KETHEA
KETHEA Paremvasi ATHENS
KETHEA Ithaki THESSALONIKI
KETHEA Strofi ATHENS
KETHEA Pleysi ATHENS
KETHEA Exodos & Pilotos LARISSA-VOLOS
KETHEA Diavasi ATHENS
KETHEA Nostos PEIREUS
KETHEA Kivotos ALEXANDROUPOLIS
KETHEA Kivotos KAVALA
KETHEA Ariadni HRAKLEION
KETHEA Oxygono PATRAS
KETHEA Kyttaro KALAMATA
KETHEA Ioanninon IOANNINA
Press inquiries:
Michalis Logothetis, Association of Families, KETHEA Diavasi, 6932 235002