Powers of the authority

§ 396-h. Powers of the authority. The authority, by and through its board, shall have the following functions, powers and duties: 1. To coordinate and assist in activities in the county relating to drug control; 2. To establish in-patient and out-patient treatment facilities for persons with substance use disorders. Such facilities shall include, but shall not be limited to: a. detoxification centers and clinics for the out-patient treatment of persons with substance use disorders; b. a treatment center where persons with substance use disorders may obtain professional counseling from physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and where possible, other persons with substance use disorders; c. half-way houses to provide continuing treatment for persons with substance use disorders. 3. To create a referral program whereby persons with substance use disorders and persons and agencies concerned with their treatment will make use of the aforementioned treatment facilities; 4. To encourage and, when so requested, assist cooperative efforts among local narcotic guidance councils and state agencies in developing solutions to the drug problem; 5. To establish one or more treatment districts within the county based on geography and population density; and to employ a referral counselor in each treatment district; 6. To encourage and foster, if possible, the use of former drug abusers and persons formerly addicted to drugs as staff personnel; 7. To assist narcotic guidance councils of a city, town or village within the county in the development of preventative educational programs; 8. To act as agent for the county in accepting any public or private funds which may be made available to a county to control the problems of drug abuse; 9. To make a continuing evaluation of the preventative educational techniques and pharmacological and psychiatric treatment procedures used in the county; 10. To utilize former drug abusers and ex-addicts in educational counseling and make periodic evaluations of their effectiveness; 11. To establish youth centers to provide individual and group therapy and develop constructive work habits;