CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Planning is underway for how the state can utilize a specialized revenue account to fund additional bed space at treatment facilities.
The West Virginia Legislature passed House Bill 2428 in April, creating the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund to help with substance abuse recovery.
The fund named after Brown, who died of a heroin overdose at the Charleston Town Center Mall in April 2014.
West Virginia Division of Health Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch said addiction-related problems are damaging the state’s potential and growth.
“The Legislature really did a terrific job in putting that bill together and making sure that money would be used where it’s needed,” he said.
The department will collect grants and gifts from public and private sources.
Crouch said the fund is currently “a minimum” of $24 million. He added partnerships will be created with the private sector to have treatment beds ready in most-needed areas.
“We’ve got some detox units and we’ve got some services available,” he said. “But what we were really lacking were some long-term care, meaning 90 days or more. A lot of these end up being nine months to a year in terms of treatment.”
Crouch said the options for some facilities will include expanding existing services and working with private groups to start new facilities if necessary.