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State Hospitals provide that potential to change the environment.  Richmond State Hospital is currently assembling key stakeholders to pinpoint opportunities to fill needs currently not being provided.  One possible solution is to partner with judges, sheriffs, and prosecutors for felony and misdemeanor diversions to treatment in lieu of incarceration.  There is also a pilot program for opioid addiction treatment for those persons who received opiate antagonist rescue from law enforcement.  Outpatient treatment programs are calling for assistance with patients who are not compliant with their programs.  I am confident that together solutions will be found.

Richmond State Hospital still has many available clinical beds that are currently being unused and which could easily be used to expand addictions services.  These clinical buildings will require some outlay of capital to refurbish them for current use, but I hold that this would be a good investment for the taxpayer as opposed to continuing to maintain and eventually pay for demolition of unused space.  Currently, two of our buildings are already being used for substance use disorder services.  Meridian has opened 30 beds in Building 416 for a 30-day residential treatment program, and Hope House continues to operate their program for homeless men with addictions out of Building 414.

But here are at least two more options to expand clinical services, though there are many more.

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