River Ridge representatives outline treatment, peer‑support results and need for mental‑health beds

River Ridge Treatment Center representatives told the Texarkana Board of Directors that the facility provides residential drug and alcohol treatment and outpatient mental‑health services and that gaps remain in local residential mental‑health capacity.

Corey Dixon, the center’s local director, said River Ridge offers outpatient behavioral‑health services at its Arkansas Boulevard location and provides contract services inside jails; Jeff Frank, a peer‑support specialist, described how peer support differs from counseling and shared follow‑up statistics from 2024. Frank said staff made 470 follow‑up calls to former clients, received 157 answers (about 33 percent), and that 56 percent of respondents reported still being in recovery at the time of the call. He cited national relapse and overdose statistics while urging stronger local supports and bed capacity for those with acute mental‑health needs.

Police and public‑safety speakers noted that officers and first responders carry Narcan and regularly respond to overdoses, and public commenters urged more emphasis on residential beds for mental‑health crises. River Ridge officials said residential mental‑health beds are part of their vision but require state funding; the closest 30‑day inpatient mental‑health residential facility cited in the meeting is in Little Rock (Recovery Centers of Arkansas).

Ending: River Ridge said it will continue outreach and coordination with the city and local partners to expand services and explore funding sources for residential mental‑health capacity.