Commission uses opioid-abatement funds for jail-to-work program, approves addiction-related grants

Hamblen County commissioners voted June 4 to allocate opioid-abatement money to several local treatment and reentry programs, including a full $200,000 contribution to the county’s Women’s Jail-to-Work program.

The motion to fund the jail-to-work program from opioid funds was made by Commissioner Ahern and seconded by Commissioner Walker; commissioners debated whether the program should remain split between the general fund and opioid money, then voted to approve using the opioid funds. Finance director Amanda told the body that roughly $800,000 of the county’s opioid settlement funds are unrestricted; other portions are restricted by state abatement rules or by the pharmaceutical settlements and require specific reporting and eligible uses.

Commissioners also approved using opioid-abatement money for other substance-abuse programs. The panel voted to fund Stepping Out Ministries and the Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition from opioid sources (Stepping Out: $10,000 from opioid funds; Substance Abuse Coalition: motion amended and approved for $10,000 from opioid funds after an initial request of $25,000). Members said those programs fit the state’s abatement definitions and thus qualify for the restricted funds.

Finance director Amanda and other staff emphasized the limits: some opioid receipts are restricted to abatement activities and require monitoring and periodic reporting to the state and to settlement administrators. Several commissioners urged caution, noting that opioid dollars are time-limited and that recurring program costs will need other long-term funding when settlement flows end.

Next steps: staff will document the program eligibility and reporting requirements for each award and present updates at the committee’s scheduled June 8 session.