JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Because of budget cuts, the Florida Department of Corrections is planning to eliminate funding to 33 drug treatment facilities across the state, that help former inmates deal with their addiction as they re-enter society.
"Definitely this is a life and death situation," said Marvin Apte, who is beating the opioid addiction thanks to his treatment at Bridges of America in Jacksonville. "They gave me a second chance at life."
The center which houses and treats up to 165 recovering addicts at a time will have to close its doors because of the budget cuts, according to Michelle Bateman, center director.
The 33 affected centers would lose the ability to help 428 recovering addicts, according to forms provided by the FDC.
The department says its hands are tied, claiming it and the governor pushed state lawmakers for more money, but ended up with a $28 million shortfall for inmate health services.
"Making adjustments to programming and treatment was a last but necessary resort," according to the FDC's budget overview.
"It is our hope that these decisions, while necessary given the circumstances, are temporary and a positive working partnership with our community partners can continue in the future," said Julie Jones, department secretary.
Apte sats whoever is at fault, the consequences are deadly for recovering addicts.
"If they're to stay out of prison, if they're to stay out of a cemetery, it's facilities like this that help them do it," Apte said.
State lawmakers have just over a week to accept or amend these cuts.
The staff at Bridges of America and facilities like it across the state are making phone calls and writing letters asking lawmakers to give them the money they need to keep their doors open.