The media should not plant seeds of doubt about the opioid fund liquidation process

I rarely express my opinions or judgments publicly. However, after reading the articles about opioid settlement funds, I felt the need to respond. My name was mentioned in the article, which gives me more motivation to respond.

With all due respect, our community is entitled to their thoughts and beliefs about this tragic epidemic. I have been in the addiction and mental health profession since 1983. I have had the privilege of accompanying many agencies, companies and individuals who have the courage and heart to find ways to provide human help to the disease of the addiction

I am insulted that there is any suggestion of intentional deception, unfairness and cherry-picking behind closed doors regarding the funds allowed into our community.

I understand that financial concerns affect all agencies, schools, health care facilities, as well as our courts and law enforcement. I understand that different programs offer different solutions.

What I don’t understand is why our media wants to plant seeds of doubt about this process. Many of us have been tragically hurt and are suffering from the disease of addiction. This community has skilled people and agencies who are trying to deal with a faster-than-light epidemic. We are still struggling to get over it. Our mayor, former mayor and all their councilors can only go with what they hear, what they see and what they know.

What I do know is that this money will go to agencies that care and are there for the right reasons. They are on the front lines and have a research-proven track record that what they do is making a positive difference. We are looking for lifelong recovery, not short time.

I hope that those who have not benefited from this distribution will be good neighbors and continue to work in our community to address and deal with this tsunami, and will continue to apply for funding in the years to come. We have to work together, and we have been doing it. I might add that we do this because many of us have been at this long before the opioid epidemic. We know many people and places that are demonstrating proven results, and we should be on their boards and committees.

I make no apologies for being connected to many agencies and people in this community. I have learned and listened to them all. I have seen the results of his good works, and I know the people who are benefiting from them. From Park Avenue to the park bench, opioids are no respecter of persons. The services and agencies that have received the funds deserve, need and will use them appropriately.

We studied prevention, intervention and treatment. One size does not fit all. We wanted a comprehensive, compassionate and experienced approach. We liked all the apps and understood the good intentions and solid goals of all of them.

If we want to treat and continue to prevent overdoses, we must be models of integrity, inclusion and respect for all providers and services. Could our media share and help promote a more collaborative and cooperative response? It’s out there!

I will continue to be on any boards, committees and discussion groups that I am invited to participate in. I invite the Courier & Press to do your research before printing an article that causes “questioning” of the choices and challenges of our trusted leaders. .

Lisa Seif, Evansville

This article originally appeared in the Evansville Courier & Press: LETTER: Media should not plant seeds of doubt about opioid fund process