Broome County Legislators are giving approval for funding the Helio Health substance detox center at the former Broome Development Center in the Town of Dickinson for another year.

The funding for what originally opened as the Syracuse Behavior Health Facility nine months ago passed 14-1 in spite of continued debate over the number of people being treated at the facility that are from outside of Broome County.

Supporters say the new facility has had a big impact in preventing overdose deaths and helping people with substance abuse disorders move into longer-term treatment and eventually re-integrate into society.

Broome County has shown a steady reduction in overdose deaths, mainly from opioids like heroin, over the past year while the New York State numbers have been edging upward.

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