Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Director resigns
Officials say that the director of Delaware's Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health resigned.
According to Delaware Health and Social Services, Mike Barbieri's last day as director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health was July 6. The acting director is Dr. Clay Watson who is a psychiatrist and the medical director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker is currently doing a national search for Barbieri's replacement. Officials say that Dr. Watson's state salary as acting director will be the same as it has been as medical director for D.S.A.M.H. Officials say that psychiatrists and forensic pathologists are among the highest paid people in Delaware state government because they work in medical specialties.
Many times doctors in those fields are reportedly in short supply, not only in Delaware, but nationwide. Dr. Watson's yearly salary is $214,672,50. He will not receive any more money while serving as acting director.
Barbieri reportedly served the Department of Health and Social Services and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health well in two years as director. In a letter that Dr. Walker sent to employees discussing Barbieri's exit, she said that Barbieri has spent his adult life combatting drug abuse as a probation officer and as a founder of a Wilmington based adolescent substance abuse treatment program.
Dr Walker said, "Mike's work, first as a legislator and then as Director of DSAMH, allowed the State of Delaware to be released from a court-ordered Settlement Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice requiring the state to implement major reforms in order to serve the more than 10,000 individuals with serious and persistent mental health issues in the community.
Mike also worked to respond to the addiction epidemic in our state, both as a legislator and as DSAMH Director. He increased the funding and availability of addiction treatment services across the state, championed legislation to increase the access to the opioid-reversing medication naloxone, and got the 911/Good Samaritan Law through the General Assembly. His work has changed and saved countless lives."
