Funds secured for Erie County's only detox center

PERKINS TWP. — Thursday represented a monumental day for the area's addiction recovery movement.Erie County commissioners formally approved a $500,000 funding request to build a full-fledged detox center in Sandusky.It's the final funding piece now in place to build a 16-bed facility at the Erie County Health Department's campus on Superior Street.The detox center, Erie County's only such operation, will provide medically supervised, around-the-clock treatment as addicts enter the first stage of recovery: detoxification. It's one part of a full circle of care for addiction recovery services."This is a significant step in the direction to provide needed services for our citizens," said Erie County health commissioner Pete Schade, who will directly oversee all detox center operations. "With the commission's support and acknowledgement of this emerging health issue, we, as Erie County, will be leading the way to recovery."Schade expects construction to start in October with a debut date set for July 2017.Many consider detox centers as the best option for helping people overcome addiction issues.Shortly after addicts stop abusing alcohol and drugs, their bodies begin to experience extreme withdrawal symptoms. Trained detox center professionals can help people cope in hopes of them achieving a sober lifestyle.A detox center can also:• Reduce the alarming amount of locals, especially those under 40, who die from causes directly related to drug abuse• Decrease the amount of public funds spent on services directly dealing with people suffering from drug abuse"In the long run, it will save the county taxpayers money through fewer people going to jail, fewer people going to court, less boarding costs and fewer people relying on (Erie County) Job and Family Services," Schade said.Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo, a local leader for recovery solutions, explained why the commission supported Schade's funding request."This is a major epidemic facing our community," Shenigo said. "Treatment, and not incarceration, has now been recognized as the standard across the country. Here, in Erie County, we have been working on programs, such as sober-living housing with the Genesis by the Lake project. With this new detox center and an in-patient system we're working on, we will have our full circle of care that will allow people to live productive lives." Making sense of the dollars and centsIt will cost $2 million to construct a 16-bed detox center at the Erie County Health Department's campus.Among where the money is coming from:• $500,000 from the Erie County Health Department• $500,000 from the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties• $500,000 from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services• $500,000 from the Erie County commissionersSource: Erie County Health Department Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOurielThe Erie County Health Department secured the necessary $2 million from various entities to build the area's only detox center at its campus on Superior Street. The 16-bed facility, debuting in July 2017, will provide medically supervised, around-the-clock treatment as addicts enter the first stage of recovery: detoxification.