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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 13, 2002
| Contact: |
Pat Libbey, Public Health Director, 360-786-5581 |
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Donna Bosworth, Chemical Dependency Coordinator,
360-786-5585 |
Thurston
County Expands Methamphetamine Treatment Programs
OLYMPIA – Thurston County has been chosen as a site for a
Methamphetamine Family Services Demonstration Project.
The $295,000 project provides for additional services for people
participating in dependency/family treatment court and allows for more timely
treatment for participants dealing with meth related addiction.
A second treatment project will be set up in Spokane.
Both projects are modeled after the highly successful Methamphetamine
Family Treatment Services project in operation through the Pierce County
Alliance.
Donna Bosworth of the Chemical Dependency division of Public Health and
Social Services says the federal funding will allow an expansion of badly
needed treatment options. “We
can now set up additional rehabilitation opportunities through Behavioral
Health Resources/Recovery Services (BHR) which is the current provider for
Family Treatment Court. The
demand for treatment is very high and this is really good news because a lack
of sufficient outpatient treatment resources has been a challenge at times.”
BHR will provide expanded case management and support services for up
to 30 families eligible for Family Treatment Court and they will offer
additional treatment and monitoring of clients.
The funding is a pass through by the Washington State Methamphetamine
Initiative which is coordinating efforts statewide, to fight the highly
addictive drug. Thurston County
Public Health and Social Services Director Pat Libbey says, “This project
will allow us to offer additional treatment to help people get off and stay
off methamphetamine. It also
dovetails nicely with other efforts to combat the drug that are being
conducted by the Thurston County Methamphetamine Coalition.”
Thurston County Commissioners are expected to
approve the project later this month. The
additional treatment provisions could be in place by the end of the summer.
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