Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop looks at the community’s efforts to reduce the opioid crisis as a major success this year.

He praised the partnership between the city, county and Columbus Regional Health through the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress coalition.

While last year the County Council approved an income tax hike, in part, to address the crisis., this year the city and county have approved funding for several projects.

Among the approvals, was funding for a centralized hub to be operated by ASAP where an addict can get help from various agencies and organizations all in on place.

Lienhoop said that one of the major obstacles to recovery is an inability to navigate the system of organizations and entities that are meant to address addiction problems in the community.

He said the idea is to have a central point with a contact person to help those in need navigate the  system.

The hope is to have the hub open early in 2019, Lienhoop says.