City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 6, 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 Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Funding to Support the Delivery of Opioid Treatment.
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ISSUE: 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/CSB's receipt of $100,000 in new State funds to increase staffing to manage the City's Opioid Treatment Program;
2. Approve the addition of a position (1.0 FTE) fully supported by grant revenues; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Since 2017, the opioid crisis has had a significant impact across the Commonwealth of Virginia. 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 57 suspected opioid overdoses from January to December 2018, eight of which were fatal. Preliminary overdose data through September 2019 indicates 37 total opioid overdoses, ten of which have been fatal.
In response to the growing opioid crisis, the General Assembly's FY 2020 allocation to DBHDS included $5,000,000 to increase access to medication and treatment services throughout the Commonwealth. This funding opportuni...
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