There have been 101 opioid overdoses since January--15 of those fatal, according to police reports. Fried says her department has good partnerships with the sheriff and police departments. Fried adds that they have clinicians in the jails, outpatient therapy and medication assisted treatment for county residents.
“All of those efforts have really decreased the number of overdoses and things that we’re seeing in Chesterfield over the past year.”
Fried will oversee over 600 employees. She says the bulk of her $43 Million budget is Medicaid driven. Fried says most of that money goes directly toward helping the community.
“We serve probably about 7000 citizens a year. Three thousand of those individuals pretty much receive our mental health services.”
Fried starts her position on July 1st.
Ian Stewart/WCVE News