By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The city of St. Joseph and Buchanan County will combine money they received from an opioid settlement to help in the battle against a growing problem with opioid addiction.
Assistant St. Joseph Health Director Kendra Bundy says the money will pay for treatment, prevention, and education.
"And there's a pretty long laundry list through the application process of things that are approved uses, but it really is geared towards treatment, prevention and education, and those would be specific to anything within the city of St. Joseph or Buchanan County," Bundy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Just over $150,000 will be made available annually between the city and county.
Bundy says groups are already hard at work attacking the problem with limited to no money, and these funds will help fill the gaps in substance abuse recovery and education.
"Maybe start education at an earlier level and enhance the education, really promote that to youth and families, and have a different impact there," Bundy explains. "Or treatment and recovery, where people maybe aren't always aware of treatment and recovery resources, or maybe we can expand treatment and recovery options and other prevention options within the city."
Bundy says the effort will help get those resources out into the community to the people that need them, as well as help expand educational opportunities to prevent substance abuse for generations moving forward.
Bundy says this problem isn't new and several agencies have been working to combat it for years.
"Given that this problem is here and now we have some funding to put towards the services and expanding the different options available, expanding resources, and really taking a deeper dive into some of the gaps in the community and maybe being able to do something about that, that's very exciting," Bundy says.
The city will contribute $105,000 with Buchanan County adding $52,000 annually through December of 2039.