Ice Rink to Fight Opioid Crisis: Drug-Free Fun vs. Misuse of Settlement Cash
County Spends Opioid Settlement Money on Ice Rink, Raising Questions
A Kentucky county nestled in the heart of Appalachia, where the opioid crisis has wreaked devastation for decades, spent $15,000 of its opioid settlement money on an ice rink. While the county officials and proponents of the rink argue that offering drug-free fun like skating is an appropriate use of the money, critics say it’s a misuse of funds intended to address the harm caused by opioids.
‘Heartbreaking’ Decision
Brittany Herrington, who grew up in the region and became addicted to prescription opioids in the early 2000s, called the spending decision “heartbreaking.” “How is ice-skating going to teach kids how to navigate recovery, how to address these issues within their home, how to understand the disease of addiction?” she said.
‘Other Pressing Needs’
Herrington and other local advocates agree that kids deserve enriching activities, but they say the community has more pressing needs that the settlement money was intended to cover. Carter County’s drug overdose death rate consistently surpasses state and national averages, with a rate 2.5 times as high as the national average from 2018 to 2021.
Alternative Uses for the Money
Other communities have used similar amounts of settlement funding to train community health workers to help people with addiction and to buy a car to drive people in recovery to job interviews and doctors’ appointments. Local advocates suggest that $15,000 could have expanded innovative projects already operating in northeastern Kentucky, such as First Day Forward, which helps people leaving jail, many of whom have a substance use disorder, and the second-chance employment program at the University of Kentucky’s St. Claire health system.
‘A Waste’ of Money
At least one Carter County magistrate has come to regret spending settlement funds on the skating rink. Millard Cordle told KFF Health News that, after seeing the rink operate over the holidays, he felt it was “a mistake.” “We all learn as we go along,” he said. “I know there’s not an easy solution. But I think this money can help make a dent.”
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Oversight Lacking
A yearlong investigation by KFF Health News, along with researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and the national nonprofit Shatterproof, found many jurisdictions spent settlement funds on items and services with tenuous, if any, connections to addiction. Oregon City, Oregon, spent about $30,000 on screening first responders for heart disease. Flint, Michigan, bought a nearly $10,000 sign for a community service center building, and Robeson County, North Carolina, paid about $10,000 for a toy robot ambulance.
Conclusion
The spending of opioid settlement money on an ice rink raises questions about the effective use of funds intended to address the opioid crisis. While some argue that offering drug-free fun is an appropriate use of the money, others say it’s a misuse of funds intended to address the harm caused by opioids. As the investigation continues, it’s clear that more transparency and oversight are needed to ensure that these funds are used to make a positive impact on communities affected by the opioid crisis.
FAQs
* What is the purpose of the opioid settlement money?
The opioid settlement money is intended to address the harm caused by the opioid crisis, including providing treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts.
* How is the money being used in Carter County?
Carter County has spent $15,000 of its opioid settlement money on an ice rink, raising questions about the effective use of the funds.
* What are some alternative uses for the money?
Alternative uses for the money could include training community health workers to help people with addiction, buying a car to drive people in recovery to job interviews and doctors’ appointments, and expanding innovative projects already operating in the region.
* Is there oversight of how the money is being used?
There is limited oversight of how the money is being used, with some jurisdictions spending funds on items and services with tenuous connections to addiction.
