The Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) has awarded a six-month grant in the amount of $302,500 to the Berks County Jail System to expand medication assisted treatment opportunities to individuals at the jail with an opioid use disorder.
This grant will include the cost of medication as well as the medical personnel involved in the program. The monies for this grant are from the Berks County Opioid Settlement fund.
The Berks Opioid Settlement funds are in place to address detrimental effects of the opioid/overdose crisis in Berks County and to help protect the community from such negative effects in the future. These funds will be used to provide services related to Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) and any co-occurring substance use disorder (SUD) and Mental Health (MH) conditions to all communities and residents in Berks County with respect, dignity and equity while supporting culturally appropriate services and programs.
Below is a sampling of other projects funded through Berks Opioid Settlement Funds:
- Danny’s Ride: A transportation service designed to assist individuals living in Berks County with opioid use disorders and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions who are receiving recovery, treatment and other related services.
- Recovery Works: A workforce development program developed and operated by Berks Connections Pretrial Services. This program helps those in recovery from opioid use disorders and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions to become reliable and successful employees and helps address issues of unemployment and the underemployment.
- Easy Does It, Inc at Atonement Lutheran Church: A collaboration between Easy Does It of Leesport, PA and Atonement Lutheran Church of Wyomissing, to offer certified recovery specialists recovery support services, free of charge, to any Berks County resident who desires it.
- Connecting with Coffee & Cookies: A weekly support group for family and friends of loved ones struggling with substance use disorder.
For a more complete list of projects and more detailed information on funds, visit the cocaberks.org Opioid Settlement Funds page.
Berks County receives a specified amount of funds annually from Pennsylvania’s allotment of the National Opioid Settlement. The Berks County Commissioners authorized COCA to manage and distribute the funds locally in accordance with the National Opioid Settlement. COCA has served as the Single County Authority for substance use prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services for Berks County since 1972. More information regarding the Opioid Settlement can be found at www.cocaberks.org.
