City joins countywide fight against addiction

Maria Flora, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·2 min read

Mar. 1—The Lebanon City Council pledged more than $39,000 to a countywide effort to bring two men's recovery houses and a myriad of mental health resources to Boone County.

The $39,332.72 represents the entire restricted opioid settlement funds the city will receive as part of a $26 billion national settlement with three pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

Restricted funds must be used for saving lives, such as alcohol and drug addiction treatment and prevention programs. And the money will come to Lebanon in small increments through 2028. But the money Lebanon and other Boone County towns can receive could be multiplied if they pool resources as matching money pledged in a bid for a state grant of $1.4 million.

Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry was absent but sent a message through Clerk Treasurer Tonya Thayer that pooling the settlement money with other Boone County contributors is the best answer for how to use it.

"The money we would get annually is so small that we really couldn't do anything effectively with it, really," Council President Mike Kincaid said.

The Boone County Council and Commissioners agreed in late February with a grant proposal presented by Boone County Community Corrections Executive Director Michael Nance. And Lebanon city leaders wrote a letter of support, along with Zionsville and Whitestown leaders.

Nance confirmed on the grant deadline that he submitted the application after a little more than three weeks allowed to unite multiple county agencies in one cooperative project.

Pledges include Boone County American Rescue Plan Act funds — $225,000; United Methodist Children's Home — $111,450; Boone County Mentoring Partnership — $13,000; Boone County Community Corrections and Alcohol and Drug Program — $50,000; Boone County Solid Waste District — $5,000; Zionsville — $16,283; and Whitestown — $13,442.

Seven agencies would use the one-time grant funds as follows:

* Aspire — Two recovery homes for a total of 16 men;

* InWell — A rural integrated clinic and treatment in the Boone County Jail;

* IUMCH — Therapist and prevention services;

* Boone County Mentoring — An additional staff member and prevention programs;

* Live for Live — Housing for at-risk females and childcare for clients or families;

* House of Grace — Staff training and urine screens; and

* DARE — Training for two new Lebanon Police officers and bring the program to a full staff.