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County leaders addressing shortage of detox facilities

Posted at 6:27 PM, May 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-13 20:40:18-04

COLORADO- El Paso County is growing, and leaders throughout the area are concerned as there’s a growing need for detox centers.

“We have seen an uptick in need,” said Crossroads Turning Points Interim CEO Charlie Davis, “There’s always that concern as the communities fall into crisis.”

Crossroads has a few detox centers throughout southern Colorado, in March they moved out of their home in the El Paso County Jail to a new building off of Maxwell Street.

Davis says the agreement with the county ended, and when they took over the program there was always a plan to move out of the jail.

“We are really past the point where we need to start building additional capacity here locally,” said Representative Terri Carver (R- Colorado Springs) who attended a meeting last week addressing these concerns.

Carver says she and other local lawmakers plan to work on legislation to introduce in 2020 discussing the need.

“We’re looking at really three different aspects,” said Carver, who outlined those priorities as keeping funding for current programs, expanded detox treatment facilities in El Paso County, and long term residential treatment.

This past session, lawmakers approved a bill to expand a medication-assisted treatment program for opioid addiction.

In Colorado Springs, the Crossroads facility has 20 beds, Davis says they’re working on securing funding in hopes of adding ten more.

Davis says they’re in the process of applying for grants and other funding to expand access.

“For us, it’s trying to make sure everybody’s aware of the services provide,” said Davis.