Tag Archives: Opioid

DeKalb County Commissioners approved the additional funding of four anti-drug programs during their Monday meeting. The funds will be split between the local sheriff’s DARE program, the Youth and Family Resource Network, the DeKalb Prevention Coalition, and the Recovery Court Program. County Mayor Matt Adcock said the funding requests totaled just over $145,000. “The state joined a settlement, this is ... Read More »

Upper Cumberland Workforce Connection wants $100,000 from the city of Cookeville to employ two workforce re-entry specialists. Executive Director Becky Hull said the specialists would be tasked with helping people re-enter the workforce after being incarcerated. Specialists would work with individuals to get them employed. Hull said the specialists would also hold individuals accountable so they do not allow setbacks ... Read More »

Cumberland County beginning the process to spend its opioid abatement settlement money. The county received some $294,694. County Mayor Allen Foster said the state has provided a document that shows general areas where the money can be spent. “Or opioid abatement and trying to get people to not use it in the first place,” Foster said. “There are various things ... Read More »

UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said he wants to plan a regional opioid summit on how to spend opioid abatement money. Farley said a lot of communities are already receiving payments from court settlements. Farley said the summit would review how the money can be used. “One of the things that we want to make sure is that our mayors ... Read More »

Overton County has joined in an state-wide opioid abatement agreement that could bring millions of dollars back to the community. County Executive Ben Danner said if settled, the lawsuit against pharmaceutical distributors will pay out over 18 years. “The smaller the community it seems like the bigger the problem is,” Danner said. “From working with the inmate crew and seeing ... Read More »

Record overdose numbers in the Upper Cumberland indicate a greater need for awareness of the dangers of addiction and overdose. That’s according to Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist Suzanne Angel. Tuesday is International Overdose Awareness Day, and Angel said that the key to bringing awareness to the issue comes from talking. “I think we need to talk about our mental health,” ... Read More »

The Overton County Sheriff’s Department is applying for six grants to help with community and deputy safety. Sheriff John Garrett said he hopes to add five to seven bulletproof vests. In addition, the grants would provide extra funding for drug enforcement operations. Garrett said the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Grant allows the county to call in extra resources when ... Read More »