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Drug Treatment Agency Unveils $18 Million Facility

Tribune photo by KATHY STEELE

More than 200 guests, including Mayor Pam Iorio and Tampa City Council Chairman Tom Scott, celebrated the grand opening of an million facility for the nonprofit Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office, or DACCO, at 4422 E. Columbus Drive on March 24.

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By KATHY STEELE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 24, 2009

TAMPA - As of 7:30 a.m. today, Hillsborough County's jails housed 3,479 inmates, up to 70 percent of them arrested for drug or drug-related crimes, said sheriff's Col. Gary Terry.

"We used to think we could build more jails," said Terry, who has served 15 years on the board of directors of DACCO, a drug treatment facility. "We can't build our way out of the problem. We have to stop drug abuse."

Terry was among more than 200 guests, including Mayor Pam Iorio and Tampa City Council Chairman Tom Scott, celebrating the grand opening of an $18 million facility for the nonprofit Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office, or DACCO, at 4422 E. Columbus Drive.

Construction funds came from a $16 million city bond and matching funds from Hillsborough County, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, the Florida Department of Children & Families, Wachovia Bank, the Junior League of Tampa and private donations.

DACCO started in 1973.

In 2006, the agency rezoned about 7 1/2 acres at its Columbus Drive campus, which then had two buildings for administrative staff and a women's dormitory. The new three-story facility consolidates most programs, including women's treatment services, and administrative staff, which in recent years have been scattered among offices on East Hillsborough Avenue and a plaza on North 56th Street.

"It's more efficient to do it under one roof … and not have a front door everywhere you go," said Mary Lynn Ulrey, the agency's director.

DACCO continues to operate two men-only treatment centers on North 50th Street.

The Columbus site has medical and psychiatric clinics, outpatient counseling and treatment for men and women, and two Head Start learning programs serving the community as well as women in treatment at DACCO. There's also a playground, a women's dormitory, drug prevention and wellness programs, a yearlong court-ordered diversion program, assessment and referrals for HIV treatment, and a methadone clinic.

A family center duplex can house four women and their children for several months at a time. In total, DACCO provides 68 beds for women receiving on-site drug abuse treatment.

The Junior League operates an on-site boutique to offer hair and makeup services and a selection of dresses and accessories for women going on job interviews.

"It's really a welcome place, I hope," Ulrey said.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 259-7652.

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