“I’m a nurse and a County employee, and I want to see that every tax dollar goes where it’s supposed to go–in this case, to help people recover from substance abuse.”
Akbar Chatman, an LA County substance abuse counselor, notes the reports of self-dealing at Tarzana Treatment Center come at a time when substance abuse budgets are stretched thin, and local drug treatment centers are closing due to lack of funds.
“It’s a tragedy,” he says. “All those extra costs could be used to really help people.”