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Coffee County panel hears three requests for opioid-abatement funds; decision postponed to April 16
Summary
The Coffee County Opioid Abatement Commission on April 2 heard presentations from the county public defender and two recovery-housing providers seeking local opioid settlement and state grant support but did not award funds, instead scheduling a follow-up meeting for April 16 to set disbursements and conditions.
Coffee County public defender John Nickel told the Opioid Abatement Commission on April 2 that his jail-based social-work program has completed 674 initial assessments and facilitated 174 treatment placements, and he asked the commission to continue local opioid-abatement funding for the coming fiscal year. "The social workers had completed a total of 674 initial assessments," Nickel said, adding that placements have a 74% completion rate and that program participants have accrued 7,076 program days.
Nickel said the program — which began operating April 14, 2024 — employs licensed and bachelor-level social workers who meet clients at arraignment, arrange treatment placements and provide follow-up services. He asked the commission to fund the program for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and warned that local approval will be needed promptly to include positions in the state budgeting cycle. He also said the…
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