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Houston County approves $96,000 MOU with Mental Health Matters to expand opioid and mental-health education
Summary
The Houston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $96,000 Memorandum of Understanding with Mental Health Matters of Middle Georgia, funded from the opioid settlement, to expand community and first-responder education on opioid addiction and harm-reduction strategies.
The Houston County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $96,000 Memorandum of Understanding with Mental Health Matters of Middle Georgia to develop opioid-awareness and mental-health education for the community and first responders. Commissioner Lacey Robinson presented the request and said the program will focus on awareness of opioid treatment resources and harm-education strategies.
Superior Court Judge Katie Lumsden, invited to speak about the item, highlighted the county's longstanding mental health court and the need for sustained community supports: "approximately 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental health condition, with 1 in 20 experiencing a mental health crisis," she said. The Board voted to fund the MOU from the opioid settlement fund.
The agreement was presented as a community-education and assistance effort rather than an enforcement action. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Robinson, seconded by Commissioner Byrd, and carried unanimously. Next steps were not detailed at the meeting beyond execution of the MOU.
