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This is DEEP DIVE: WFHB AND LIMESTONE POST INVESTIGATE where we look into issues regarding Health, Housing, and the Environment that directly impact residents of Monroe County. We are looking into the Opioid Settlement Fund, and how the money will be distributed.
First, we have an update from the Monroe County Coroner’s office.
On May 3rd at the Monroe County Commissioners meeting, Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup gave an update on opioid related deaths in the community this last year compared to previous years.
The statistics show that opioid related deaths are still on the rise. We reached out to the local chapter of Centerstone, a non-profit health system that provides mental health and substance abuse services, about addiction itself, how substance abuse disorder can be stigmatized, and we asked for their proposals on how the settlement money should be used locally to address the issues the coroner raised.
Linda Grove-Paul is the Vice President of Adult Services at Centerstone. Her expertise includes addiction, recovery, substance abuse and mental health. Grove-Paul said substance abuse disorder is often mischaracterized – and that people should think of it as a biological disease. She pushed back against the stigma associated with the opioid epidemic.
We also spoke to the Director of Clinical Development at Indiana Center for Recovery Jackie Daniels who has 18 years of experience working on addiction treatment and prevention related programs. You can learn more about Indiana Center for Recovery on their website: https://treatmentindiana.com/
This concludes our series on the opioid epidemic. Stay tuned for the next edition of Deep Dive, where we investigate IU’s Tree Inventory. Call 802.552.3483 or email [email protected] to share your story, submit feedback and leave suggestions.
Visit the Limestone Post to read Journalist Rebecca Hill’s coverage on the Opioid Settlement Monies.
