Page 4 - august2017lifeinnaples

a message from your publisher

W e have all been affected Volume 8 Issue 8 | August • September • October 2017

directly or indirectly by
someone with mental
health issues. Fortunately there is 3215 Gulf Shore Blvd N • Suite #112N | Naples, FL 34103
no longer the stigma attached to
239.572.0051
seeking treatment for the wide range lifeinnaplesreg@gmail.com
of chemical dependency and mental www.lifeinnaples.net
health issues. We applaud individuals
who step forward, “own” their issues and seek assistance
Text Copyright 2017 all rights reserved.
with treatment. What we do know is that both of these
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by
conditions are serious and both are underfunded nationally any electronic or mechanical means without permission from
as well as in Collier County. the publisher. Life in Naples regrets that no responsibility can
Although we have excellent programs in Naples, their
be accepted for unsolicited material. Opinions expressed by
full effectiveness has been hindered related to limited contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those
financial resources. County Commissioner Andy Solis
of the publisher.
has mentioned that, “Nobody is really coordinating all the
moving pieces,” and has suggested creating an advisory
board to do so. I think that he has a point.
County Government provided 1.6 million dollars
this year to the David Lawrence Center. The adults and
children of Collier County who need mental health and publisher reg buxton
substance abuse treatment can seek this help from the
David Lawrence Center the prominent nonprofit provider marketing consultant joel kessler
in Collier County.
LET’S CONSIDER A FEW FACTS: contributing writers mayor bill barnett

The Collier County jail provides primary housing dr. allen weiss
paula allia
for drug and alcohol addicted people and even those
with mental illness, less than ideal, we can all agree. jeff bohr
Lack of treatment availability can leave those with diana jarrett
sandra lee buxton
addictions or illness to have behaviors resulting in arrest lois bolin
and incarceration for crimes. This does not serve that
claudia polzin
population or society in general, resulting in expensive laurel meny
and costly band aid approaches with no resolution. David tim tetzloff
Lawrence Center is limited to 30 inpatient beds yet no
ron mcginty
half way facility is available once the patient is discharged.
It is imperative that we as a community begin dialogue
with plan development for post treatment housing with graphic design opus studio, inc.
expansion of in-patient treatment beds. Having served on
the David Lawrence Foundation Board and Drug Free
Collier Foundation Board I value, support and respect their
work. Naples, what can we do to help?

4 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2017