Slim Turnout for Opioid Settlement Hearing

A tiny crowd was seen during a public hearing Thursday evening to discuss how opioid settlement funds could best be used to help others, but the process has to start somewhere.

Five members of the Effingham County Board were on hand...Chairman Josh Douthit, along with Norbert Soltwedel, Tim Ellis, Sandra Rich, and Doug McCain. County Coroner Kim Rhodes was present, as were mother and daughter, Carissa and Ava Welton, and one reporter.

The utilization of the funding will include $100,000 for a program through the office of County Sheriff Paul Kuhns to aid inmates in kicking their addiction. Also, $10,368 has been allotted for ROSC and Hour House to help battle addiction. 

There was also discussion of how Narcan is utilized to battle drug overdoses, and Soltwedel acknowledged the assistance of South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission in securing the funds, as well as how the use of the funds will be accounted for.

Despite the slim turnout, Douthit said, "We won't quit trying" to find the best strategies.