Sheriff asks for $50,000 in opioid funds to sustain jail medication-assisted treatment program

Major Bobby of the sheriff's department told commissioners they requested $50,000 from opioid settlement funds to keep the jail's medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program operating after the prior attorney general grant expired.

"We had almost 50 inmates who had been involved in the program at one time or another," Major Bobby said, describing progress under the program and noting that other grant money remains available for staffing but the medication funds had been spent.

The request would allow the county to continue providing medication while staff pursue reapplication to the attorney general's grant next year. Major Bobby also asked commissioners to adopt a resolution honoring Correctional Employee Week and to invite participants to a future meeting for recognition.

Commissioners expressed support for continuing a program they described as helpful to inmates and public safety. No formal vote was recorded on the funding request during the meeting; staff said they would include the amount in a forthcoming resolution for board action.