The Monroe County commissioners approved spending additional funds to help people battling drug addictions.

Under the purview of the District Attorney’s Office, the commissioners accepted a proposal from Kudu Creative at their meeting on Wednesday morning to create an awareness campaign about the Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative. The cost for the campaign is about $27,875.

Commissioner John Christy said, “So everybody knows that money will be paid from the opioid settlement that we receive on a yearly basis for the next 10 to 15 years.”

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the goal of the program is “to connect individuals suffering from substance use disorder with treatment options.” Drug overdoses are the number one cause of accidental deaths in the state.

The program is held in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The website states that it empowers law enforcement officers to guide people suffering with an addiction into treatment instead of into the criminal system.

People who would like to get a referral for treatment or their family can contact Carbon, Monroe, Pike Drug and Alcohol at 866-824-3578 for more information. For more information about the initiative, email info@monroecountyda.com.

The county is also involved in a campaign with Pike and Carbon counties to educate the public about the dangers of using fentanyl. More information about the dangers can be found at www.wefightfentanyl.org. Money received from the opioid settlement is being used to fund this awareness campaign.