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.

5 min read / The State