is introducing its to provide resources to 45 additional opioid-addicted residents per year.
The docket was funded by a three-year grant and will provide supervised alternative sentencing to aid in the recovery of drug offenders.
The court will have its first session this Thursday.
, who will oversee the court, says it is a step in the right direction but more work needs to be done.
鈥淒o I expect to put a stop to the death rate or significantly impact it? There are estimates that we have 20,000 heroin-dependent people and another 70,000 that are abusing pills. Just doing the math, 45 is not going to have a big impact.鈥�
Matia says that addiction needs to be treated as a disease like hypertension or diabetes, without any stigmas.
