Garnar: Most Visiting Drug Treatment Center Are from Broome

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar says over 150 people have sought help from an addiction treatment facility which opened two months ago.

The program at the former Broome Developmental Center campus in the town of Dickinson is operated by Syracuse Behavioral Health.

During an interview on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Garnar said a majority of those who have accessed treatment are Broome County residents.

Garnar said despite concerns expressed by some before the facility opened, there has not been an influx of people coming from outside the Binghamton area.

New York state licensed the center to have up to 50 medically supervised withdrawal and stabilization beds.

The county executive said he believes it now is operating with between 25 and 30 beds. It said the facility was designed to be "right-sized for our community."

Garnar said he thinks Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare officials "are not surprised by the numbers."

The state is providing $1.5 million a year to operate the Broome County treatment program.