Now, after a series of fits and starts, Florida is finally on the brink of a historic overhaul to mental health and substance abuse treatment that supporters say will better equip the criminal justice system to handle mental illness.
What's more, advocates say, the changes could help people receive treatment earlier, addressing problems before they become more severe and reducing the strain on the state's mental hospitals. Those facilities are in the spotlight after reports by the Tampa Bay Times and Sarasota Herald-Tribune exposed them as understaffed and not having enough resources to keep up with demand.
Read Full Article »