Drug Crime Proceeds to Fund Addiction Treatment in Ventura County
By Redaccion
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The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today a distribution of $10,000 to the Health Care Foundation for Ventura County. This funding is made available from money seized in drug crimes, with the intent to redirect it toward programs that combat drug abuse. The forfeited funds will support addiction services within the Ventura County Medical Center.
«The Health Care Foundation for Ventura County has a history of providing essential medical care to the region and for some of our most vulnerable residents,» District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. «This contribution signifies our commitment to supporting treatment services and fostering healthier communities.»
The District Attorney’s Office is an active participant in the Community Overdose Awareness Solutions Team (COAST). Originally formed in 2018 to address the opioid crisis, COAST has shifted to focus on the fentanyl epidemic. This County-wide collaboration led by Ventura County Behavioral Health is a collective effort with agencies such as Ventura County Public Health, Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and our county’s Ambulatory Care and hospital system.
Ventura County Medical Center offers acute, in-patient drug and alcohol detoxification services. Overseen by Chief of Addiction Medicine Dr. Tipu Khan, the program offers evidence-based practices to help sustain remission at no cost or low cost to the patient. Most major insurance and Gold Coast Health Plan/Medi-Cal is accepted.
The detox program is designed for people with severe addictions. Treatment involves the use of medications such as buprenorphine and methadone to help patients gradually wean off substances like fentanyl and alcohol. The program also provides monitoring and treatment for any complications, along with counseling and follow-up outpatient care. The typical duration of the stay is approximately four days.
“After stabilization and drug detoxification, many patients qualify for sober living but don’t possess the funds to pay for this critical part of their healing,” Dr. Khan said. “With this donation, we will establish a scholarship fund to help support patient’s first 30 days in sober living when deemed appropriate by the treatment team.”
The donation amount will increase over time with the availability of funds. The District Attorney’s Office is dedicated to making this an annual contribution to support innovative efforts in addiction treatment and prevention.
