Tuesday, July 29, 2003
Boston health agency says drug deaths rise 76 percent (Massachusetts) Boston Globe story - "Deaths from heroin and other narcotics in Boston rose by 76 percent from 1998 to 2001 because of an influx of cheaper and deadlier heroin, according to the city's annual health report, which is being released today. Public health officials say the disturbing trend is continuing, as budget cuts eliminate substance-abuse treatment options."
Virginia advocate for mentally ill dies at 37 AP story at
HamptonRoads.com on the death of Caitlin Wright Binning, who "played a pivotal role in exposing abuse and neglect in the state's mental-health system." Binning was a former director of research at the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Virginia, and spurred a federal investigation after documenting a death in Central State Hospital in 1996. She also helped create the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy and worked to change the law "so that Virginia no longer would indefinitely institutionalize mentally ill people who pleaded guilty to minor crimes because of insanity."
Supervisors Learn more about Privatizing (Iowa) Muscatine Journal story - "The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors on Monday learned more about how privatizing its mental health services could affect the county. The board is considering cutting services that are not mandated by state or federal law in hopes of saving the county money. A decision is expected in September. Mike Johannsen, director of Muscatine County's Community Services and the Central Point of Coordination administrator, responded to several questions during his monthly meeting with the board..."
Johanns weighing state mental hospital closures (Nebraska) Story at
Fremont.com - "Gov. Mike Johanns toured the state's three mental hospitals Monday as part of an evaluation that could lead to the closing of up to two of the facilities. ... He toured the facilities with Omaha Sen. Jim Jensen, chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. Jensen's bill (LB724) last session called for a comprehensive study of the state's mental-health system — which could result in one or two of the centers being closed in favor of more community-based programs."
Alternatives to jailing mentally ill proposed (Michigan) Story in
The Macomb Daily - "Macomb County law enforcement and mental health care professionals are hoping to create a special court that would divert mentally ill criminal defendants to treatment programs rather than jail cells. The proposed mental health court could save space at a time when the Macomb County Jail is at capacity and reduce the number of repeat offenders by getting the mentally ill the treatment they lack. The program would be limited to nonviolent offenders guilty of misdemeanors."
Mental-health clients, workers protest cuts (Michigan) Kalamazoo Gazette story on about 100 people "...who packed a Kalamazoo Community Mental Health Services board meeting Monday evening to protest a plan that would eliminate about 43 staff positions that provide services for more than 500 clients."
South Carolina governor to hear mental health priorities Charlotte Observer story - "S.C. Department of Mental Health officials are scheduled to appear in front of Gov. Mark Sanford today to present their budget priorities for the year. The hearing comes on the heels of recent criticism by mental health advocates that department mismanagement is partly to blame for long patient waits for admission to state mental hospitals."
