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Senator Gallivan Supports Call for an Opioid Treatment Center in Erie County
Jim Ranney
December 7, 2017
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Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) is endorsing the idea of establishing an opioid treatment center in Erie County to address the ongoing public health crisis. In a letter to Governor Cuomo, Gallivan suggests several floors undergoing renovation at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center be used to house the opioid treatment facility. Current plans call for that space to be used as a new location for the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center.
“There is no need to move the Children’s Psychiatric Center from its current location in West Seneca,” Gallivan said. “What our community desperately needs is a dedicated center to help address the opioid addiction crisis that is destroying individuals and families across Western New York. The Buffalo Psychiatric Center is an ideal location for such a facility and the state’s investment in renovations at that site means the center could be up and running relatively quickly.”
Gallivan is supporting a call by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to secure state funding initially designated for an opioid treatment center in Broome County. The Broome County Legislature has apparently not committed to the project, prompting Erie County to express an interest in pursuing the project here.
Housing an opioid treatment center at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center would also allow the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center to remain in West Seneca, an issue Senator Gallivan has long supported. Legislation to keep WNYCPC at its current location has been vetoed by the governor. Senator Gallivan has asked Legislative Leaders to consider an override of the governor veto, but it would require a special session of the State Legislature.
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