Steuben County Office of Community Services Director Hank Chapman said under the recently-adopted state budget, Steuben could receive funds to expand addiction services in the jail.
Chapman told the county Legislature’s Public Safety and Corrections Committee the funds would pay for a full-time substance abuse counselor and part-time nurse at the county jail, with a case manager assisting inmates in making a successful transition after their release. Any release could mandate the inmate continue with support services, county District Attorney Brooks Baker said. Some 80 percent of the 200-plus inmates typically in the county jail are addicts, county Sheriff Jim Allard told the committee.
The in-jail rehabilitation services are part of Steuben’s joint law enforcement initiative, Comprehensive Opioid Prevention Effort (COPE), was announced by county Allard and Baker in late February. Elements of COPE include a victim impact panel, a pilot youth court, school competitions and a law requiring all law enforcement and emergency medical "NARCAN saves" and emergency room overdose treatment cases be reported to the Steuben County Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services within 72 hours for follow-up. The county also has hired two deputies expected to begin interdiction patrols in the near future, Allard said. The proposal also includes a beefed-up interdiction program, more drug investigators and a rehabilitation program for county jail inmates with alcohol/substance abuse addictions. COPE is the most recent effort by Steuben to stem the opioid epidemic in the county. Steuben officials and related agencies have participated in forums and rallies for the past two years. In addition, the county Sheriff’s Department’s Drug Tip Line also provides an anonymous way to report suspicious behavior. For more information on COPE, call the county Sheriff at (607) 622-3930 or the county D.A. at (607) 664-2270. For a list of local services for those with alcohol and substance abuse issues go to https://www.facebook.com/Steuben-County-addiction-support-services-1188518374602173/ The Drug Tip Line is located at http://www.844drugtip.com.
The in-jail rehabilitation services are part of Steuben’s joint law enforcement initiative, Comprehensive Opioid Prevention Effort (COPE), was announced by county Allard and Baker in late February. Elements of COPE include a victim impact panel, a pilot youth court, school competitions and a law requiring all law enforcement and emergency medical "NARCAN saves" and emergency room overdose treatment cases be reported to the Steuben County Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services within 72 hours for follow-up. The county also has hired two deputies expected to begin interdiction patrols in the near future, Allard said. The proposal also includes a beefed-up interdiction program, more drug investigators and a rehabilitation program for county jail inmates with alcohol/substance abuse addictions. COPE is the most recent effort by Steuben to stem the opioid epidemic in the county. Steuben officials and related agencies have participated in forums and rallies for the past two years. In addition, the county Sheriff’s Department’s Drug Tip Line also provides an anonymous way to report suspicious behavior. For more information on COPE, call the county Sheriff at (607) 622-3930 or the county D.A. at (607) 664-2270. For a list of local services for those with alcohol and substance abuse issues go to https://www.facebook.com/Steuben-County-addiction-support-services-1188518374602173/ The Drug Tip Line is located at http://www.844drugtip.com.
