Washington County Sheriff Will Use Opioid Abatement Funds to Provide Social Services - Articles

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Washington County Sheriff Will Use Opioid Abatement Funds to Provide Social Services

Posted by: Jarod Word on Feb 12, 2024

A sheriff in Washington County intends to use the department's share of settlement funds from recent opioid lawsuits to address recidivism through social services, the Johnson City Press reports. Sheriff Keith Sexton told the county’s Health, Education and Welfare Committee earlier this month his department intends to provide treatment to inmates dealing with mental health and substance abuse problems following incarceration. “The jails have become the dumping ground for those who are mentally ill, and I would say 90% of the people are addicted to something over in the Detention Center,” Sexton said. “People would come to the jail, and that’s the only time you’re going to see that person when they’re clean and sober.” Tennessee has set up an opioid abatement council to decide how to best spend dollars received from lawsuits related to the opioid crisis. Washington County is set to receive $530,000 in the first round of payments. Shelby County topped the list and is set to receive about $3.6 million in funding.