City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 20, 2019
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Approval for the Department of Community and Human Services to Utilize State Opioid Response Funds.
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ISSUE: City Council's consideration of approval for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)/Community Services Board (CSB) to accept funds from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) aimed at addressing the opioid crisis.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Approve DCHS's receipt of $340,000 in year-one funding to create 3.5 positions in the Alexandria Residential Treatment Center (ARTC) program (formerly known as Detox;
2. Authorize an increase of 3.5 positions; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: The opioid crisis has had a significant impact across the Commonwealth of Virginia ("Commonwealth"). In 2017, 1,227 Virginians died from opioid overdoses. In 2014, for the first time, more Virginians died from drug overdoses than car accidents. As in other communities in Virginia, the number of Alexandria CSB clients reporting opioid use as a significant problem has increased significantly during the past five years. More CSB clients reported problematic opioid use during the first four months of the current fiscal year than during the entirety of FY 2014. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) reported 59 suspected opioid overdoses from January to December 2017, nine of which were fatal. Preliminary data for calendar year 2018 looks similar: 57 total opioid overdoses, eight of which were fatal.
In response to the growing needs in Virginia, as well as the strengthening collaborative efforts taking place there, the federal Substance Abuse an...
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