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Marvin Nelson on Drugs |
Nelson: Need to have treatment available and not just in a few population centers. We need to give assurance to health providers that if they invest in treatment, we aren't going to just change our minds tomorrow. We need to look at things like tele counseling, and using our critical access hospitals to deliver necessary care. Evaluation of people at all levels of the penal system for addiction by the state. Currently, mental health services are required by local jurisdictions, but they don't do it. The state needs to provide those services. We are in a horrible legal liability situation, just waiting for the lawsuits. Need to have things like drug courts dealing with first time offenders instead of requiring multiple convictions before being eligible for drug court. We can't afford to wait until people are sent to the state penitentiary to evaluate and deal with their addictions.
Legislative outcome:Marvin Nelson voted YEA; bill failed House 26-67-1
