MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Update: due to late-January inclement weather, the event has been rescheduled to an unspecified time.
The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma has announced plans to use a portion of its $98 million in opioid settlement funds to construct a new treatment center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Construction for the $18 million 17,000-square-foot treatment center is set to start this year and will be located in the Park Hill area of Tahlequah.
Along with the main treatment center, there are plans for separate dormitories for men and women, as well as cultural amenities for residents, such as stickball fields, basketball courts, marbles courts and more.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner will also talk about more mental health plans under the $100 million amended Public Health and Wellness Fund Act which will be officially signed into law during the unveiling of the center.
It will provide $73 million to build facilities across the reservation over the next five years to meet behavioral health service needs, including drug treatment and prevention. It will also provide $5 million in scholarships to encourage more Cherokee citizens to study in behavioral health fields and work in the tribe’s health system and dedicate millions to recovery employment programs and innovative strategies for recovery, according to Cherokee Nation.
Cherokee Nation employees and citizens who have been affected by the opioid epidemic will also attend the historic event.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com.