[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6332462,"mediaKeyId","2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf","parentId",2307065,"title","Area Health Education Center outlines community programs — student leadership, mental‑health seminars and free screenings","audioSeconds",265,"startMs",2984000,"endMs",3249000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf&start=2984&end=3249","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf/thumbnail_2984000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332462/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Area-Health-Education-Center-outlines-community-programs-student-leadership-mentalhealth-seminars-and-free-screenings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332462-4b146b5c896308889512781b253e926b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137329&Signature=Utqg8W91qaDasUsayLm4AAyTf5dJT~tIs54UfFB8Kmcq73BkD4FOppQpSywobPxeED172OldSeQq5IRLqNDqUuIr~lnup1iHmm-y2K1gicdRSRJgEwbakADxtBoGOUOKTwhiSDDOiCkNIOz~QpHriB0caXG4-y~9r8MARGax0t5-gED-DNVr9p~YZZWwhlsXd7kwf8cL9dcF-JcMXneECoO9TE8bmvXkX0y8nXhKmzQqtMRyKBi0DMer79blDthAcizjtq0~NYeaMEZuzlu93ZvF2g5Q5xsy4ADFJ8NokPI~~6pst1D0kQo9raI9pEDKvpp6KtQz0JoQ5OSsgxufhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-02-13T18:47:11Z","article","Representatives from the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) updated the Drug and Alcohol Commission on community outreach programs, youth leadership offerings and a series of free mental‑health seminars.

Becky Garcia, introduced as a special project coordinator, described programs for middle- and high-school students (including a “draw the line/set the line” communication curriculum and a 17‑day workshop for teen girls), free monthly virtual mental‑health seminars, and a cancer-education series in partnership with UT Health San Antonio. She said many programs are free, available in English and Spanish, and open to partner agencies and residents.

Garcia said the center provides exhibit booths at community distribution events and seeks breast-cancer survivors for an upcoming research study; she also encouraged agencies to join the center’s referral lines and to use offered continuing-education events for professionals.

Commissioners thanked AHEC for outreach work and asked about registration and virtual access; Garcia said some youth programs are in person while the mental‑health seminars are virtual via Zoom and free to the public.

No formal action: the commission received the informational briefing; no votes were taken because the body lacked quorum.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Drug and Alcohol Commission Meeting, 02/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A special-project coordinator from the Area Health Education Center told the commission about upcoming community events, youth leadership programs and free mental-health seminars and invited agencies to exhibit at outreach events.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332468,"Laredo Police to deploy drones equipped to deliver naloxone to overdose scenes, officials say",471,3359000,3830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf&start=3359&end=3830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf/thumbnail_3359000.jpg","/articles/6332468/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-Police-to-deploy-drones-equipped-to-deliver-naloxone-to-overdose-scenes-officials-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332468-df1ec6054a525da20e11eedb266ca0bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137329&Signature=gjqoe7s6UgGFNBTpH3mwuAN55Lo19hALXqAEExhP93RobebCaHCay6kj50epnr88U8jHmT7a1dGeKi8-dDpxw6~rXrIBmYiorBND2suXhoJivj6pTij0fAJI-zfQ6m8Oyy2q5FnB5XaONOSTcs1D8rd0Ohx06jc6esTb97iVcbqfisF81WEQZsH8CqJk1C7O6dZI~I0NYbx-pBRjvFlABzVWbhQq73uPgPcroelOfWs9yifR42tOe6G-3UYDm3fPiEZZ9NZQE0YY9XPOIPpSSA59xBatBTe-TwI0JEiXqkLnEdYmxE~VXGV57jCN-Qhbms3NjVVzE8vjT1d50HfA9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Laredo Police Department told the Drug and Alcohol Commission it will launch an unmanned aerial response program to augment emergency response and to deliver naloxone to overdose scenes.

Assistant Chief Gonzales said the department is preparing a network of pods and autonomous drones to respond to high-priority calls — including suspected overdoses, assaults in progress, and traffic crashes with injuries — and to provide real-time video and two‑way communications to first responders and bystanders. Gonzales described the equipment as able to drop naloxone at a scene and to provide audio instructions to people on site until officers or medical personnel arrive.

Why it matters: the department framed drones as a way to reduce response times where traffic or distance slows assistance, and to give dispatchers and officers earlier situational awareness. Gonzales described an initial deployment of four to six sites across the city and said the first unit will be housed near the commission building and could be launched within two to four weeks once pilots finish training and equipment arrives.

Key operational details provided to the commission: Gonzales said the drones will be able to launch automatically when a qualified dispatcher or drone operator accepts a call, and that activation can take on the order of seconds. He said flight time varies with conditions but may be up to about 45 minutes in favorable weather; battery and service considerations will limit concurrent operations and require careful prioritization.

Gonzales said planned housing sites include a central location near the police facility, a station serving North Laredo, an annex building in the Badalou area, a middle-school site, and a site at Denham Recreation Center; one site in an outlying area is still being finalized. He emphasized the department will manage privacy concerns and will not use drones to conduct warrantless surveillance in private homes.

Commissioners asked about triage and prioritization rules, drone payload and limitations, and whether the drone program will affect on‑scene officer dispatching; Gonzales said drone data would supplement — not replace — traditional response and noted the program must be managed to avoid draining limited drone batteries and pilots.

No formal action was taken because the commission lacked quorum.","The Laredo Police Department described a planned six‑site drone program that can stream video, communicate two‑way with bystanders and drop naloxone at emergency scenes; officials said the first unit will be operational in two to four weeks and emphasized privacy and operational limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332472,"Roots Recovery Center marks one-year anniversary, reports admissions, readmissions and service gaps",752,851000,1603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf&start=851&end=1603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf/thumbnail_851000.jpg","/articles/6332472/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Roots-Recovery-Center-marks-one-year-anniversary-reports-admissions-readmissions-and-service-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332472-6730d61f41cdcbde8d4a57936d08a8fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137329&Signature=UKH~2L9BAhxbC-c2xWcPc2tg9shGrSbGlfi~CqU4cmGZjpv9e5IiQXNGgYkDyZ6Ug07uyu7QIZCSSR60S8b3HgtWds3JG4Wx~kRXP1F9oT-eP1pRCuT7~S5W7hVMhvxSlSqJwOBBOw3S2NIC1EIrIrcFMQiwRInXYh1jNj-9v4w8Z2gjG44LOioX2mTGnttGQx~RgUg8PtMyT3U1Ox6KpnB07jbdw1ODVkbW-pKyAxTUMWHeApbmFZ9voODhRHtvRH6mqTEwzr3xANCAoRJ7IzLlczYLNlH5t9L8iPIvztoIKHUmstbRrmcaVfk3UTX79hK0xAg~LEenpQgu9kK~hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roots Recovery Center officials briefed the Drug and Alcohol Commission on the center’s first-year operations, referral and admission counts, clinical challenges and outstanding service gaps.

Dr. Rianne Martinez, representing Roots Recovery Center, said the facility opened Feb. 5 after a January licensing and has registered 452 referrals in its first year and admitted 287 people. She said 91 admitted clients have a confirmed dual diagnosis (mental health plus substance use disorder) and that the center recorded a 28 percent readmission rate among clients.

Why it matters: staff and commissioners emphasized that residential and detox capacity are limited in the region and that clinical precautions are driving some admission requirements. Martinez said the center treats adults 18–75 (median in the late 30s to early 40s), has admitted 238 men and 49 women so far, and does medical detoxification and short-term stabilization (up to 72 hours) for people with substance use disorders.

Clinical complications: Martinez told the commission that alcohol and sedative withdrawal are among the most clinically difficult conditions to manage; staff reported five patients seized from withdrawal while in care and were transported to hospitals and later returned to continue treatment. The center also reported six women who learned they were pregnant only after the center’s intake pregnancy tests; Martinez said treating pregnant people requires different protocols and resources that the center currently cannot provide without expanded funding.

Funding status and state applications: Martinez said Roots submitted requests for state funding (an RFA for five-year grants) and is hopeful state support for detoxification services will be available; commissioners said the city has committed to carry the center’s operations for three years while the center pursues grants. Martinez and other speakers also said federal-level funding for some harm-reduction programs may face reductions, and the center is pursuing multiple funding lines.

Peer-support concerns: Martinez described repeated complaints from clients about one specific volunteer-run AA meeting and said patients reported feeling demeaned or triggered by language used during meetings. Martinez said center leadership has paused that group’s access after repeated incidents and will continue to coordinate with peer organizations; commissioners noted the importance of linkages but emphasized client safety.

No vote: commissioners received the report but took no formal actions because the commission lacked quorum.

Provenance: Roots Recovery Center’s operational statistics and clinical concerns were presented by Dr. Rianne Martinez.","Roots Recovery Center told the commission it received 452 referrals and admitted 287 people in its first year, highlighted dual-diagnosis care and alcohol-withdrawal risks, and said the city will carry operational funding for three years while the center seeks state grants to expand services.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6332477,"Laredo health officials outline $70 million bond to build new clinical facility, cite drop in overdose deaths",333,198000,531000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf&start=198&end=531","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2307065-b34c014c95060ad1037fa6dbe6043caf/thumbnail_198000.jpg","/articles/6332477/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-health-officials-outline-70-million-bond-to-build-new-clinical-facility-cite-drop-in-overdose-deaths","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332477-cbabfa636a6450d4957c7f0404fe3441/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137329&Signature=mMj8lpBg~p~jjV0OG3QBr9YFO-UXUfUP1gtJdE4G~fvLA5D-54zzirNrev140opjXVxRZLHUFBY05uiNriFFoC8NZ97IE9FhKDQXXnhAEEN-tzKqCasB8CVJU~LMWWPN-AekoV9SSmGQ~qbVUCeBisIVurfc0WjnkLfMR9pee5yJY4IoYIrW~KZmcpI9gGHmgBDI3uykvZ80JV26ZCgAznWkBOPbnFOoQDJeftvevoEDwZI6kOWgI5BrOcI9zmOYHh592TjeXChbkqV949442MrQzi1IgKYzhkrt5D5KDsyC5p5O8nbJrN1MqNghWaHdBtnK2tLH3Y~p8oNBC-bsyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laredo Public Health told the Drug and Alcohol Commission on Wednesday that the city will ask voters in May to approve a bond referendum that would fund a new clinical services facility and other capital projects.

The department said the proposed bond would include $70,000,000 for a new clinic — described in the meeting as roughly 60,000 square feet and intended to expand treatment capacity, screening and imaging services, and an infusion center. Winseva, introduced as the department’s director of services administrator, told commissioners the ballot measure will allow constituents to decide in May whether to authorize the funding.

The health department framed the bond as a long-range capital plan; Winseva noted the city’s last similar ballot measure dates to the early 1990s. She also said the department expects the package to generate only a modest tax increase, estimating “about 0.7¢ more to your taxes” and “no more than $10.15” in total tax increase as presented to the commission, and said staff can only provide information, not advocacy, to the public.

Why it matters: department leaders said expanded clinic capacity would let Laredo increase outpatient and treatment services — including opioid use disorder care — in one centralized facility and help sustain recent declines in overdose deaths. Public-health staff also described current harm-reduction efforts that would continue alongside the capital project.

Details from the presentation: Winseva said the department recorded 39 overdose deaths in 2024 compared with higher counts in preceding years and attributed the decline in part to community and commission efforts. The presentation highlighted three free community vending machines stocked with harm-reduction supplies (including naloxone) located at the passenger recreation center, another recreation center, and a site below the commission’s meeting building; staff reported 59 naloxone distributions from December through the most recent reporting period.

Commissioners asked about plans to expand the vending machines and about supply funding; Winseva said the machines are inexpensive to operate but depend on steady funding and community donations. She invited partner agencies to contribute supplies and logos for community-supported stocking of machines.

No formal action: the commission did not have quorum at Wednesday’s meeting and took no votes. Commissioners and staff said they will continue public information efforts about the ballot question and bring more detailed analysis on project scope, tax impacts and outreach to a future meeting.

Provenance: The health-department presentation and vending-machine details were provided by Winseva during the commission’s administrative report.","Laredo Public Health briefed the Drug and Alcohol Commission on a proposed $70 million bond referendum to fund a new clinical facility, updated harm-reduction work including naloxone vending machines, and said the city saw a decline in overdose deaths in 2024.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Area Health Education Center outlines community programs — student leadership, mental‑health seminars and free screenings

Laredo Police to deploy drones equipped to deliver naloxone to overdose scenes, officials say

Roots Recovery Center marks one-year anniversary, reports admissions, readmissions and service gaps

Laredo health officials outline $70 million bond to build new clinical facility, cite drop in overdose deaths