CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Billionaire and gubernatorial candidate Jim Justice is forcefully calling for more drug treatment. But he's vague on how West Virginia could pay for more treatment centers.

West Virginia is battling a big budget deficit while, as Justice puts it, opioid addiction has the state "cannibalizing" itself.

Saying he's a political outsider, the coal and resort baron argues he's in no position to give budget specifics.

"Can I tell you specifically today where the pot of gold is that we can get to build these facilities?” Justice asked. “I can't. I can't do that. But we've got to find it."

The Democratic Party nominee discussed the state's drug problems with social workers Tuesday, as he accepted the endorsement of their professional organization.

Judging by rhetoric, both Justice and his Republican opponent – Senate President Bill Cole – favor a mixed, multi-faceted approach. Cole is emphasizing harsh criminal punishments.

Under Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, West Virginia has seen some success reforming courts and jails. The state is moving non-violent adult and juvenile offenders out of incarceration and into community-based programs, and saving money doing it.

Justice wants to go further, and he was not entirely silent on how to fund the added treatment it would require.

He said once they're running, residential facilities could pay for their services through public and private insurance payments, from, say, Medicaid and private policies.

But he stressed more treatment is an absolute necessity.

"Those treatment facilities can be self-sustaining,” he insisted. “But regardless, we've got to find the money. I mean, it's all there is to it. If there is no money, we have to find the money."

A Justice campaign press release gives the general shape of a complex set of proposals, including expanding drug courts, adding treatment programs to the regional jails, reducing school truancy, improving job prospects and mental health care.

Licensed social worker Jim Harris was one of those meeting with Justice. Harris said the state should look at what it's spending on sending folks out of state for treatment.

"We need to take an honest look and say, 'Has that just been the quick fix?' and say, 'Hey, we could use that money that we're sending out of state to build infrastructure in-state,’" he stated. “We're spending a lot of money out of state on services that we could be providing within our state."





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Alzheimer's disease is the eighth-leading cause of death in Pennsylvania.

A documentary on the topic debuts Saturday in Pittsburgh. "Remember Me: Dementia in the African American Community" features individuals and families who are dealing with memory loss.

C. Nathaniel Brown, founder and CEO of Expected End Entertainment and a former Pittsburgh resident, said his aunt lives with dementia, which sparked his interest in talking with others to find out more about the disease and how it affects communities of color.

"The first thing I found out was that there are over 100 types of dementia," Brown noted. "And the more I learned, the more I realized how much it was impacting the African American community disproportionately. We're twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or some other progressive type of dementia."

The film will be shown at the Carnegie Library in Homewood, from Noon to 3 p.m. ET. It is free, but registration is required. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than half of Black Americans believe major declines in memory and cognitive function are simply a normal part of aging, rather than symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia.

Brown added after the screening, there will be a question-and-answer session and community organizations will be there to provide resources.

"Allegheny County Health Department will be present, the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's disease Research Center will be there," Brown outlined. "The Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania organization will be there, as well as several people who were interviewed for the film, including counselors, professionals."

He mentioned the documentary features the late Academy Award-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. Brown said Gossett emphasized the importance of leaving a legacy by educating people about living with Alzheimer's, steps to take after diagnosis, and preventive measures.


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Boulder and Broomfield County residents can now access mental health services the same way they can access urgent medical care.

Dr. Nadia Haddad, medical director of mental health services with Mental Health Partners, said all too often, people can't get help unless they are already connected with an outpatient provider, and many have months-long waiting lists. She said if people have to wait for care, their situation can get worse, and what might have been a manageable issue can turn into a crisis.

"They are going to the emergency room or going to a psychiatric hospital. And so what we're trying to do is fill that gap so that people can get connected with services when they need it, on a walk-in basis," she said.

Mental Health Partners, a community mental health center serving Boulder and Broomfield counties for 60 years, recently launched UrgentPsych Mental Health and Substance Use Urgent Care. The walk-in program provides immediate, in-person support for urgent mental health and substance use needs for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, whether or not they are an existing client, or speak English. For more information about the 24-hour facility in northeast Boulder, call 303-443-8500.

Mental Health Partners' new Intensive Family Services program provides in-home therapy for K through 12 youth with disruptive behaviors who are at risk of being placed in foster care or the juvenile justice system. The urgent care facility is also available to people of all ages.

"That's another really challenging part of seeking out services. Care for children and adolescents is often even more challenging to find. There are fewer child psychiatrists out there," she said.

Both new programs were created in part to get people the services they need to avoid hospitalization. But Haddad said when people do reach a point where they need 24/7 monitoring and daily visits from a medical provider, it is essential that people can access hospital-level care.

"The vast majority of people who are dealing with mental health-related issues do not require hospitalization. If we can change people's trajectories earlier, we can prevent mental suffering, and they may not have to go through the hospital," she explained.


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This is National Library Week, honoring the many roles that libraries play in their communities.

In central Texas, a pilot program is using the public library system to expand mental health services in rural areas.

Residents in four counties can get assistance at their local public library through the Libraries for Health program.

Trained mental health peer specialists evaluate clients and refer them to clinics for additional help if it's needed.

The program is funded through the St. David's Foundation, working to advance health equity in Central Texas.

The foundation's Senior Program Officer Abena Asante said the initiative works in tandem with the mental health community.

"It's in no way taking the place of clinical-directed psychologists," said Asante. "It's just one community response in addressing the lack of mental wellness resources in rural communities."

Asante said libraries are trusted and accessible gathering places for people living in rural areas. The libraries tailor programs to meet specific local needs based on feedback from the residents.

Data collected during the 3.5-year pilot program will be used to evaluate its success. The nonprofit Via Hope trains the peer specialists who work in the libraries.

Dr. Sandra Smith, vice president of Via Hope, said the staffers use their own life experiences to help them relate to the clients.

"They have to have had a mental health challenge at some point in their life," said Smith. "We don't ask them any specifics about that, we don't ask diagnoses - it's a self-disclosure."

The Libraries for Health program operates in eight libraries in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties. If successful, it could be implemented in other parts of the state.





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