In Case You Haven't Heard…

More than 10% of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration staff have been fired, CBS reported last week. This was due to the DOGE cuts ordered by Elon Musk. Affected were 100 workers who had been there for less than a year. They included recently hired directors of SAMHSA's regional offices and staff working the 988 hotline, which is for people facing drug or mental crises, including addiction and overdoses. A quarter of the communications staff is gone. There is now a feeling of a “doom loop” at the agency, which attracts workers who want to help those with mental or addiction problems.