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Four new opioid earmarks totaling $451,112 will be recommended to Luzerne County Council, the county\u2019s Commission on Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement decided Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Council has the final say on awards from the county\u2019s share of the state\u2019s settlement against opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors. Allocations must comply with settlement fund eligibility protocols.<\/p>\n
The recommended awards:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Berwick Area Transitional Services \u2014 $40,000 to provide coordinated housing assistance, transportation support, employment stabilization services, and other help to Luzerne County residents seeking or in treatment and their immediate families.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Dress for Success Luzerne County \u2014 $126,112 for the Strategies for Success program that helps women in recovery rebuild their lives.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Guardian Angel \u2014 $160,000 to expand access to safe, licensed recovery housing and Certified Recovery Specialist services for women in the county.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Restorative Roots \u2014 $125,000 to expand its state-licensed transitional housing beds for those with opioid use disorder.<\/p>\n
Restorative Roots operates recovery houses in Edwardsville, Plymouth, and Wilkes-Barre.<\/p>\n
Owner Joseph Aiello sought $605,500 and presented statistics to the commission in support of his argument that more beds are needed.<\/p>\n
While commission members praised Restorative Roots\u2019 work, they reduced the recommended earmark to $125,000 to ensure the growth in beds is proceeding at a sustainable level.<\/p>\n
The commission also discussed a request to allocate $130,000 to the Dallas Township Police Department for a community narcotics-detection K-9 program.<\/p>\n
The earmark would help fund the acquisition and training of the canine, the training of a handler, and the purchase of a specially equipped K-9 police vehicle, according to the submission.<\/p>\n
Commission members expressed concerns the program would not meet opioid settlement fund eligibility requirements. They agreed to refer the matter to County Council along with a request for a legal determination on the eligibility.<\/p>\n
The commission tabled the remaining agenda request from XT Enterprises\/RecoverU because no representatives of that entity were in attendance Wednesday to answer questions. It is seeking $147,121 to support an existing licensed male recovery house and add another building, with property acquisition privately financed.<\/p>\n
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