Oconee seeks funding to fight the opioid crisis

If a federal grant application is approved, Oconee County will have up to $600,000 to help fight the opioid addiction crisis.

 

The County Council Tuesday approved a grant application for Bureau of Justice Assistance program funding targeted on the opioid problem.

 

Any funding awarded will go toward an ongoing collaborative effort between the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and Oconee Addiction Recovery & Solutions (OARS) to develop a locally driven response to opioids, stimulants and other substances, including treatment and recovery services, diversion programs, and education and prevention activities.

 

The combined effort will help develop comprehensive law enforcement, community health and evidence-based programs to improve responses to at risk for overdose offenders and provide alternative-to-incarceration services to those suffering from substance abuse disorders.

 

The OARS Center opened in March 2020 following a three-year collaborative effort with

Oconee County and has been approved to house twenty (20) in-patient clients. The OARS Center also has a formal education lab for non-residential recovery programs.

 

 

 

Notes: A final vote on the health department lease to Clemson University was postponed.