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T-Center needs funds to build drug treatment facility in Charleston

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Plans to build a drug and alcohol treatment center in Charleston are still in the works, but funding has been a major issue since the project was announced more than three years ago.

“It’s hard to get money right now,” said Scott Miller, president and board chairman of the T-Center in Charleston.

The T-Center needs about $9 million to get the project started, but has only raised about $2 million so far.

“We’re trying to get into the community in other ways. We’re trying to get some state and federal funds,” Miller said. “It’s just tough right now.”

Plans for the facility were announced in 2014. It will be located on Greenbrier Street across from Capital High School. Parents and community members previously expressed concerns about the site of the location, but Miller told MetroNews Tuesday that’s because not enough information was provided at the time.

“I’ll take the blame for that. We needed to get out into the neighborhood and explain exactly what we were doing and we did that. We had a get together at Coonskin (Park) and we explained what we we were doing. Everyone seems to be okay with it,” Miller said.

The facility will serve men and women over the age of 18. Miller said they want to provide both treatment and long term recovery for those struggling with addiction.

“We’re looking at not just a 28-day stay. We’re talking about doing a complete assessment of each individual,” he said.

The T-Center wants to provide an outpatient care facility, an education center and a residential facility that will include about 40 beds initially. An “after care” program for patients who complete the program and want to continue living on site is also in the works.

Miller said having the facility in Charleston will help the entire state, especially because many addicts have to travel out of state to get the help they need. He said it will also give judges the option to sentence inmates to the drug treatment center instead of prison.

“The one-time offense shouldn’t be held against somebody for the rest of their life. We want to help those folks. We want to help the kids that are in school to graduate,” Miller said.

T-Center officials are working with several organizations to start the project including the Jessica Grubb Memorial Fund. Grubb, a Charleston native, died after surgery following an opioid overdose in 2016.

To donate to the T-Center project, CLICK HERE.





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