Millions in opioid settlement funds going to addiction prevention, treatment initiatives in Milwaukee County

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- The state of Wisconsin handed down $102 million from opioid settlements to Milwaukee County, and now that money is starting to go towards tackling the epidemic.

The county is using around $3 million to support its "Better Ways to Cope" initiative. The funds are being split between 15 different organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit. They focus on addiction prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.

“This problem isn’t going away any time soon,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “It is up to us as a county, working with our internal and external stakeholders, but more importantly working with the community.”

A grant program is also being created for county departments, which Crowley says will help fill in any gaps they may find while helping people get treatment.

"We're taking an approach to making sure that we're working with those organizations that have been on the ground every single day,” said Crowley. “But it's also about how do we, for example, tackle those who are addicted to drugs...who may be homeless at the same time."

Crowley says $8.5 million will go to the departments of Health and Human Services, Emergency Management, and Administrative Services over the next three years.

The county does have resources available for those seeking help for addiction. Crowley says anyone can walk into any county building and ask for resources.

“We believe there is no wrong door in finding the assistance and the resource you need to better yourself and your family,” said Crowley.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, you can call the county’s Mental Health Emergency Center at (414) 966-3030. You can also call the county’s crisis helpline at (414) 257-7222.

Mental health and substance use care resources can be found on Healthy MKE’s website.