The state will continue to face monthly fines unless it significantly decreases wait times for people in the criminal justice system waiting in county jails for mental health treatment.
Harm reduction programs that supply overdose reversal drugs and clean syringes say that the state will see increases in overdose deaths and infectious diseases if they go away.
“It’s a perfect storm coming together to really threaten our ability to provide what is needed to keep communities safe and healthy,” one public health expert says.
There’s a shortage of drug treatment programs in Western Oklahoma. Many people don’t have transportation and the nearest provider is in another town.
There’s no competitive bidding process through the state for pregnancy resource centers, faith-based groups and other nonprofits to get public money if they go through an organization like the Oklahoma Life Foundation.
Fentanyl has proliferated so quickly because it’s cheaper to make than other drugs and can be mass-produced in a few hours.
A growing number of women have faced criminal charges in Oklahoma after using drugs during their pregnancies in recent years. But an appeals court ruled expectant mothers who used medical marijuana can’t be prosecuted.
Some kids in crisis are abandoned to state custody. Mental health professionals say accessing services early can lead to better outcomes. But finding the right resources can be hard.
