Cincinnati City Council honors Addiction Services Council CEO Lisa Mertz; highlights planned 24/7 alcohol-focused recovery center

Cincinnati City Council unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing Lisa Mertz, president and CEO of the Addiction Services Council, and highlighted her leadership in developing the city’s first alcohol-focused recovery center.

Lisa Mertz told the council she was surprised by the honor and described herself as "a product of the public system of care." The council praised Mertz's leadership and her use of lived experience to guide services for people with substance use disorders.

Council members and the mayor emphasized Mertz's role in creating access for underserved communities. The resolution states Mertz has served more than four years as president and CEO of the Addiction Services Council, worked as a recovery coach and peer mentor at the Hamilton County Justice Center, and is leading development of a 24/7 alcohol-focused recovery center that will include transportation and intake services.

Vice Mayor Kearney, President Parks and other council members lauded Mertz for turning personal experience into public service; multiple council members noted her recent graduation from law school and that she was valedictorian of her class. The resolution was presented and adopted by unanimous roll call.

The resolution directs recognition; it does not appropriate funds or create a city-run program. Council members and staff said the recovery center is a project of the Addiction Services Council and that the city’s role is recognition and, where applicable, coordination with funding and permitting entities. No new city appropriation for the recovery center was recorded on the council floor during the reading of the resolution.