The League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Further cuts to Oklahoma's mental health budget would be a false economy because the responsibility - and cost - of caring for those who need treatment would simply pass to other state and local agencies, the mental health commissioner warned Wednesday. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Terri White said her agency has already cut $16 million from its budget and that additional cuts will force it to reduce programs and turn away some of the 55,000 people who receive treatment and recovery services every year. "We are going to see a lot more suffering in Oklahoma. And it's needless suffering," said White, who also serves as Gov. Brad Henry's secretary of health.

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