Taking On NC's Mental Health And Substance Abuse Challenges | Eastern North Carolina Now

 Raleigh, N.C. — Continuing his administration's commitment to take on North Carolina's toughest mental health and substance abuse challenges, Governor McCrory has accepted recommendations from two key task forces set up to develop new strategies for addressing mental health, substance abuse and underage drinking.

Governor McCrory on Mental Health & Substance Abuse: We Need To Change To Get Different Results

CBS News Reports On North Carolina's Veteran Treatment Court

Governor McCrory's proposed budget allots $30 million to combat mental health, addiction and substance abuse, including for specialty courts like the Veterans Treatment Court featured recently on CBS News.

Governor's task force wants to address treatment, not jail, for people struggling with mental illness, addiction

• By Alicia Banks
• Fayetteville Observer
• May 20, 2016

 A task force appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory recommended Thursday better case management and affordable housing for people in recovery for mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse.

 Formed in July, the Governor's Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Abuse also suggested more access to treatment for opioid and prescription drug abusers and placing people with mental health and drug issues in treatment instead of jail.

 Rick Brajer, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said roughly 60percent of adults battle a mental illness at least once in their lives.

 "We're helping in the understanding of what mental health is, how serious it is, and substance use," McCrory said at a news conference inside the Cumberland County Courthouse. "This is one of those serious issues we have to deal with. It's not Democratic or Republican, urban or rural. It affects us all, and I'm very proud of this team."

 The 24-member task force includes legislators, experts from the justice system and law enforcement, and professionals from the private sector and the health care community.

 Their recommendations will be overseen by the legislature and the Department of Health and Human Services.

 The 32-page list of recommendation includes plans for one-time funding initiatives, such as creating local task forces, more inpatient beds for people in crisis and veteran-friendly services and evidence-based treatments.

 "We need to apologize to all of those going through an addiction," McCrory said. "Now, we're here to help, and you need to help yourself, too. It's a two-way street."

 In his budget, McCrory has asked the state to provide $30 million in recurring funds for the task force's proposed programs. The House proposed $30 million in nonrecurring funds.

 McCrory said his budget proposes an additional $20million to fund programs, training and outreach from the sale in July of the Dorothea Dix property in Raleigh.

 Brajer said mental health and drug and alcohol issues aren't a "they" problem, but an "us" problem.

 McCrory told the gathering about a friend, a white-collar worker with a law degree, who spent time in jail for driving under the influence.

 Not long after, he was arrested again for a different offense.

 "It crushed me because I wish I would have known that about him," McCrory said. "We need the reoccurring money because you can't have something for one year and drop it. The issue of addictions is still not understood, and it has taken me five years to get it."

 The model for creating the task force stemmed from the Cumberland County Veterans Treatment Court, where the news conference was held. McCrory applauded city and county leaders for their efforts to not only combat the stigma surrounding mental health, but its strides in not ignoring the effect it has on people grappling with it.

 He acknowledged the efforts of Judge Lou Olivera, who spent a night in jail April 12 with a retired Special Forces sergeant who had violated his parole.

 "The collaboration here is one reason why we're doing it, from the mayor to county commissioners," he said. "I saw the teamwork. This county was the role model for making this happen."

NC task force recommends guidelines to combat substance abuse

• By Justin Quesinberry
• WNCN
• May 24, 2016

 RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The task force that looked into substance abuse underage drinking and treatment released its recommendations Tuesday morning.

 Former lieutenant governor and ABC commission head Jim Gardner led the 20-member group, known as the Governor's Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force.

 Among their 10 recommendation, they want:

• Mandatory training for all employees who serve alcohol
• Stricter penalties for people who knowingly serve minors
• Require the Board of Governors to enforce alcohol and drug policies
• Add recovery centers in specific areas of need around the state
• Develop an interactive treatment and recovery resource map online.
• "I got lucky when I was in junior high and high school and college," Gov. Pat McCrory said. "I did some binge drinking for myself. I survived it and I saw a lot of my friends not survive it and they became alcoholics or they moved on to other drugs.
  "This next generation has a lot more peer pressure than I had."

 The task force said that among its accomplishments, several college campuses hired more staff, changed policies and increased awareness and recovery.

 Training sessions were held for alcohol servers near campuses.

 And researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at Duke University looked into the consequences of alcohol on young brains.

 The task force was established May 13, 2014.

• Contact:
•  The Pat McCrory Committee
•  media@patmccrory.com