Residents voice thoughts on where opioid settlement money should go

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — : Lexington is doing their part to help combat this opioid epidemic that is happening nationwide and affecting many cities and states and on Thursday, the city held a town hall to hear public comment as to where new settlement money should be going, whether its resources or to other programs.

“I’m recovering opioid addict for like 10 years now over 10 years. Holy cow. Today I woke up haven’t used yet,” said a man in attendance who shared his experience.

City officials in Lexington, hearing testimony on Thursday night from those who have been directly impacted by opioids.

“I don’t really remember the first couple of years. That’s what opioids do. They rob us of our own minds,” he also said.

The town hall featured not only comments from the public but also a discussion about funds from the National Opioid Litigation Settlement should be used in Lexington.
So far, the city has received more than $3 million dollars.

“I individuals need help. Now they need resources, now they need treatment. Now we have treatment beds, but we also need more access to those treatment beds and remove the barriers that folks have to finding recovery finding and recovery support after they complete a treatment,” says Tara Hyde, of People Advocating Recovery.

While opinions differ on how the money should be distributed those in attendance affected by opioid abuse, just want something to be done.

“I strongly believe that opioids and drugs robbed my father in his mind and I watched him beat my mom and they had divorce in the duck homeless as a child. Fast forward to now I feel like I’m pretty successful thanks to a few great mentors the military and making good decisions. But two years ago, the unthinkable happened. My wife got a call from my grandmother, my my father’s mom and he had passed away from an overdose and even knowing that he had done drugs for so long. The possibility of overdose was never in my mind,” also said, Alex, who recalled his experience with opioids.

Like other cities and states, Lexington joined a lawsuit with multiple defendants that resulted in an agreement that will provide resources.
Some defendants have settled, while others have declared bankruptcy.

“I would just encourage you to put allocations for sustained community and family level support for children,” added Leila Salisbury, the executive director of  The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families.

The next town hall meeting will be next Thursday that one will be at Consolidated Baptist Church on Russell Cave Road at 6 p.m.