For the last year, the Courage Center – a church ministry at Mount Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington – has been helping teenagers cope with recovering from drug-use, specifically opioid use, via counseling + activities (not initial addiction treatment).
The center helps anyone ages 15-26, but the founders want to expand to help more people. Their $2 million expansion plan includes:
- 10,000-sqft. center in the middle of a largely wooded site
- Security gate + security cameras
- No more than 2 dozen recovering addicts daily
- Additional services like helping with schooling + job searches
- No treatment for addiction
- Services available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays, with reduced hours on the weekend
A zoning request has been made for the expansion (with plans to open in late 2019) on an 18-acre site in the south side area of Lexington (700 block of South Church St.) – but nearby neighbors of the possible new location are not happy + urging the Town Planning Commission to reject the zoning request; stating a residential area is not the place for a drug rehab facility.
Center officials believe that misconceptions surrounding the project + social stigmas are preventing locals from getting onboard. Both sides are trying to talk it out + work on a mutual agreement.
