OLIVER: COMPTROLLER'S AUDIT SHOWS NEED FOR OVERHAUL IN ADDICTION PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

OLIVER: COMPTROLLER'S AUDIT SHOWS NEED
FOR OVERHAUL IN ADDICTION PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

(East Orange) - Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, chairwoman of the Assembly Human Services Committee, called the results of the state Comptroller's audit into the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction a "shocking wake up call" and said she would look into sponsoring any legislation needed to implement Comptroller Matt Boxer's recommendations.

The audit uncovered lax oversight in the roughly $10 million in grants annually distributed by the Council for addiction services across the state.

"To see money going places other than for direct assistance for addiction is not just a smack in the face to taxpayers, but to the very people these programs are supposed to help," said Oliver (D-Essex). "This audit is shocking to everyone concerned with combating the scourge of alcoholism and drug addiction."

Oliver said she would work with the Comptroller's Office to draft measures necessary to implement any recommendations that require legislative action - including the potential consolidation of the Council's day-to-day operations with the state Division of Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services. The audit estimates such a move could save the state $600,000 in annual operating expenses.

The audit was the first for the Council in its 19 years of existence.

"This is a situation where we just can't take it on faith that needed reforms are going to be put into place," said Oliver. "We need air-tight guarantees that the millions of dollars meant to help people caught in the cycle of addiction actually do what it is supposed to."

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