The district committee of Berrien County has received an update on how part of the district's opioid settlement money was used since the county announced a partnership with the first church of God in St. Joseph last year.
The district has decided to pay the church part of its opioid settlement allowance for the operation of two transitional houses for men who leave stationary rehab centers or prisons. The director of the church restoration house, Peter Sando, spoke to commissioners last week that they had admitted men to the house to help them go on the way to recovery. He knows what that is.
“When he came from a person who had to struggle with drug abuse, from a man who couldn't even look in the mirror because he hated who I was and had to” learn to love again. “
According to Sando, the men who stay in the household have received group and individual advice while going through a 12-step program. He said it makes a difference.
“We had over 25 applications in the house. We had up to nine people in the house. We are currently in capacity with six people in the first house. So if you just look here, you will find some of the measurable results here. I admitted over 150 drug and alcohol tests and only had a positive test, and then the person came into the house for the first time. “
Sando said the second house will be opened next year while looking for an accreditation for the program. This allows the Restoration House Insurance for Services. In the meantime, working training courses and financial competence courses are planned for the men who stay there.
Last year, the County Commission voted to give the first church for $ 420,000 for its program over the next three years. It also pays 484,000 US dollars for the holy cardiac rehabilitation center to expand opioid treatment services and programs to restore peers. The district administrator Brian Dissettte said that this was only the beginning, since the district is expected to receive between 8 and 9 million US dollars from the National Opioid settlement for over 18 years.
Sheriff Chuck Heit also informed the commissioners that Berrien County's prison helps the occupants to free themselves from opioids by offering medication -supported treatment.