Lexington city officials are initiating a pilot program on substance abuse and violence intervention. The aim is to advance communication among police, treatment officials, and families directly impacted by drugs and violence. Social Services Commissioner Beth Mills says five subcommittees will delve into issues like victim services and gun violence. "Each subcommittee will come up with projects for the community and then we will also do post incident review of drug overdoses, deaths from gun violence, so that law enforcement is talking to the treatment community who's talking to the grassroots community so that there's a culture built in Lexington around how to deal with these substance abuse issues," said Mills.
The commissioner hopes to see a permanent substance abuse and violence intervention office established within urban county government. Mills says the pilot program is being administered through the social services and public safety departments. "If there's a young person in this community that gets picked up with heroin and goes before the court. Is the best place for them jail? Is the best place for them treatment? What happens to them when they get out? I don't think we're assessing that in a holistic way. There are people in the community that can give tips to law enforcement, but they're afraid to because of the violence that goes along with drugs," added Mills.
Details about this new initiative were brought before a Lexington Council committee this week.
