Drug Detox Funding Approved by Broome Legislature
Broome County is moving forward with plans to develop a drug detox center at the former Broome Developmental Center in the Town of Dickinson.
The County Legislature has voted 11 to 4 to accept close to three million dollars following a two-hour long Committee of the Whole meeting to talk about how officials landed on the number of beds that would be at the facility, the number of patients treated each year for opioid addiction and whether the County would be responsible for any expenses.
Legislative Chairman Daniel Reynolds was one of those voting against accepting the state funds. Earlier this year, he put off a vote on the proposal over what he said were the questions that had been left unanswered by the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Syracuse Behavioral Health Care is to administer the center. Officials from that group and OASAS were at the meeting prior to the vote to answer questions.
Supporters of the center were prepared to react to a negative vote with TruthPharm sending out a news release prior to the vote advising they would have a media conference with a statement prepared should the Legislature vote against accepting the funding and the reading of the names of local residents who have lost their battles with addiction.
As the project progresses, it is possible the facility could open in the spring.