HERMANN — An organization providing transportation service to those recovering from opioid addiction will be looking for volunteer drivers after being approved to receive a share of Gasconade County’s opioid settlement funds.

The county’s Opioid Settlement Committee Thursday morning voted to approve an application from the Missouri Ozark Community Action Agency (MOCA) for $50,615 to extend the transportation service into this county. Headquartered in Richland in Pulaski County, MOCA now offers the service in several area counties using funds from the state and the counties’ opioid settlement funds.

The Opioid Settlement Committee approved an initial appropriation of $20,000 to finance administrative expenses that will be associated with extending the service into Gasconade County. During the next couple months, regulations will be drafted by the committee regarding the transport of those in recovery from opioid addiction as well as a recruit effort mounted to find volunteer drivers in this county. If no local drivers are in place by the time MOCA is set to begin the service, drivers from the other counties will be relied on, if they are available, said Tony Shaw, a MOCA representative who outlined the agency’s proposal to the Opioid Settlement Committee.

He explained the transit service falls under the umbrella of services provided by the community action agency.

“Our goal is to help people who are in poverty,” Shaw said.

The lack of transportation to and from doctors’ appointments and treatment programs is a big hurdle to clear for many people recovering from their addiction to opioid-based medications.

Prior to the committee approving MOCA’s application, Gasconade County had a balance in the Opioid Settlement Fund of $113,056. That fund is fueled by payments from pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies who agreed to a settlement of a sweeping lawsuit by state and local governments aimed at the producers and distributors of opioid-based medication. Missouri and many other states were caught up in the opioid-addiction epidemic in the years prior to the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic. Lawsuits taking place during that time were put on hold as the pandemic brought courtroom activity to a halt. When the coronavirus pandemic subsided, the effort to battle opioid addiction again moved to the forefront and settlements were reached.

Shaw explained that it costs an average of $2.13 per mile to transport a person in recovery. That includes the 70-cents-per-mile reimbursement made to the volunteer drivers. They are not compensated for their time in transporting a client.

The service is relatively new, he explained, adding that it was not without a lot of work. “It’s been overwhelming getting it off the ground,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of lives changed,” he added.

He told the committee the total amount requested should cover the cost of providing about 230,000 miles of transportation. He said it’s hoped additional state funds can be obtained to supplement the dollars provided through the opioid settlement.

However, Kenna Fricke, chair of the committee, noted that it’s unclear how much money the county will receive through the settlement program. While the settlement payout schedule covers more than a dozen years, the amounts received could be quite small. She asked what MOCA would do when this allocation runs out.

“As long as we have funds, we’ll continue to provide rides,” Shaw said.

The committee’s next session is set for Thursday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. The next deadline to submit an application for funds is Thursday, Feb. 5. Information about the opioid settlement program and applying for funds can be found on the website of the Gasconade County Health Department.