Butler County is designating where money from an opioid settlement will be heading.
County commissioners approved the allocation of over $977,000 from the state’s winning lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis.
The money is being set aside in four different groups:
- $350,000 will be used for the criminal justice system and specifically for Medication-Assisted Treatment within Butler County Prison. Also known as MAT, it’s a recovery program that combines medications along with counseling and behavioral therapies.
- $100,000 for housing programs.
- $100,000 for recovery-based programs.
- Over $425,000 is set aside for start-up needs that any of the previous three categories may need.
Commissioners say they are required to spend the funding in 18 months, but also want the flexibility to see which programs are proving to be successful and could use additional funding.
