LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There is a clearer picture of where millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds are going in Louisville. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, along with the Opioid Settlement Advisory Board recommended 21 projects be funded across various organizations. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Louisville mayor recommends 21 projects to be funded by opioid settlement money

  •  The agencies include The Morton Center, The Healing Place, St. Vincent de Paul and the Department of Public Health and Wellness

  • An employee with The Morton Center, who is also in recovery, says the money will do great things

Eric Meyer is living in recovery. At 16, he began experimenting with different substances. Adderall and other substances, he says, took him downhill. At 19, his parents tried everything to rein it in and get him back on track. He eventually got treatment.

“I struggled for a couple years down there and it took me until I was 22 and a half to get sober and to realize the depths addiction had on my brain,” Meyer explained.

Now, the 30-year-old is a clinical therapist at The Morton Center. A job he’s incredibly proud of.

“To see the light bulbs come on in the front porch, which don’t always happen. It’s incredibly difficult to create motivation for change, for people who are not ready for change. Knowing that grant funds are available for people who are ready for change and really be down and are looking for a way out and the Morton Center is able to give them that, that’s special man,” said Meyer.

Since 1984, the Morton Center has helped over 58,000 people and family members affected by substance use disorders.

“Lots of times, family members are the ones who see and notice that someone might be struggling with an addiction, so we are a place where the family can come, even if their loved one isn’t ready for help.” Priscilla McIntosh, CEO of the Morton Center, said.

Greenberg recommended 21 different projects across Louisville be funded with $5.3 million in opioid settlement money. The money would directly help people affected by opioid addiction and homelessness. The Morton Center will receive $400,000.

“We see a lot of individuals who come to us, who need help and assistance with $5,000 and $10,000  deductibles. To say to someone when they walk in the door, they finally made the decision to get help, you’re now going to have to pay $5,000 for that, we won’t have to do that. So, being able to really just support them, being able to just open up the opportunities to provide even more services. Not only to the adults, but to the children and teenagers as well,” McIntosh said.

McIntosh said the funding is a game changer.

He said, “This grant is going to give us the opportunity to save so many lives, but also thinking about the next generation and the next generation and breaking that cycle of addiction.” Meyer added, “I hope the impact is astronomical in a lot of ways.”

It is work that Meyer has put his heart and soul into. 

Other agencies receiving funds include:

  • The Healing Place will receive $400,000 to establish a recovery impact team which will coordinate with community organizations to help people navigate recovery options.
  • St. Vincent de Paul is receiving $281,858 to deal with homelessness
  • Louisville Metro’s Department of Public Health and Wellness will receive $718,000 for treatment and recovery support

"The Healing Place team is deeply grateful for the support received from Louisville Metro Government's allocation of the Opioid Settlement Funds," said John-Mark Hack, president and CEO of the Healing Place. "We are fully committed to good stewardship of the funds entrusted to us to further expand our recovery programs, especially in the neighborhoods where our facilities are located."

"We look forward to continued partnerships and collaboration with local government and our neighbors in our joint efforts to address the addiction crisis."

Related Stories