Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2003 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 Author: Clay Redden Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) RILEY PONDERS TURNING WALLACE INTO DRUG REHAB MONTGOMERY - The Lurleen B. Wallace Developmental Center on U.S. 31 in Decatur could become a drug rehabilitation center if Gov. Bob Riley accepts a recommendation to consolidate mental health facilities in the state. Riley could make a decision by next week. Riley Press Secretary David Azbell said Tuesday night that turning the Wallace Center and Tarwater Developmental Center in Wetumpka into correctional drug rehab centers administered by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation is one of the recommendations under consideration. Azbell said it would be one way to reduce prison overcrowding and give nonviolent drug offenders the help they need. Mental Health Commissioner Kathy Sawyer submitted a proposal to Riley several weeks ago to consolidate Wallace, Tarwater and the Brewer Developmental Center in Daphne with Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa. Azbell said the governor has reviewed Sawyer's recommendations and plans to sit down with her next week. "To my knowledge, the governor hasn't made a final decision on whether the plan will be fully implemented or whether certain aspects of it will be implemented," said Azbell. "It would be hard to argue that there's not a need for some consolidation to occur in our Mental Health agency." Under the proposal, residents of the developmental centers will either be moved to Partlow, placed in community group homes or allowed to go home with 24-hour care paid with state and federal funds. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin