(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Lake County is taking steps to address the opioid epidemic with settlement funds.
The Lake County Board approved the spending of over $1.5 million dollars.
Cassandra Hiller is the Lake County Assistant Administrator.
"The opioid settlement funds are really gonna help us to help the community at large to get ahead of the opioid epidemic and start providing resources and information out to the community to help make a difference," she said.
One of those resources is an opioid coordinator.
"They're gonna truly help us to manage substance use activities county wide," Hiller explained. "They're going to be developing a mini grant program to provide grants out to service providers that are on the front lines of the public health crisis."
Hiller said spending will also go towards an opioid education program in K- 12 schools across Lake County. That's set to launch this fall.
"Our goal is truly to get boots on the ground, education in the community, and to try to make a meaningful difference in those that are using or are considering using."
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