Council Oks First Two Projects from Opioid Funds

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council approved the first projects for a portion of the $3.5 million opioid settlement funds on Tuesday, will a pair of projects aimed at addressing mental health and addiction in the community.

The first initiative, budgeted at $170,824, is an Anderson County Detention Center pretreatment program designed to provide detoxification assistance, addiction treatment-appropriate counseling, and post-release aftercare and referrals to detainees. The funds will be used to hire additional, licensed Mental Health/Behavioral Service professionals, who will expand existing medication-assisted treatment and health/wellness programs offered to inmates suffering from addiction.

The second initiative, budgeted at $98,000, will provide post-release treatment scholarships for those released from the detention center, to an appropriate recovery program, which may include a residential treatment program. For those lacking the ability to pay for residential treatment programs, the county will provide scholarships at the Bridge Recovery Center (for males) and Shalom House (for women). The funding amount requested is based on providing 10 scholarships to the Bridge Center ($3,800 each for four-month residential program) and 10 scholarships to Shalom House ($6,000 each for six month residential program).

The total cost of the initial projects using opioid settlement funds is $268,824. Anderson County received $3.5 million in the settlement, and is currently considering other programs which meet the guidelines for the money..

Also on Tuesday, council:

Approved a formula for collecting fees from the Shores at Asbury, including other businesses operated on the site sub-leased by the Lake Hartwell Group.

Approved specific language to allow code enforcement on junkyards and garbage storage on properties.