Officials break ground on Anchor Project, a future mental health and substance abuse facility

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- Substance abuse and mental health are two problems the south-central Kentucky area has dealt with the last few years.

However, due to the combined efforts of LifeSkills, BRADD and local governments in the area, the Anchor Project was created to help give those in need the proper help and care with a facility dedicated to both. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday to kickoff the first phase of the project.

The project started back in 2022, and after three years, the ball is officially rolling on the construction of the facility. The plans began when members started to look back on how those struggling with mental health and addiction weren’t getting proper help and decided that change was needed.

“We saw some troubling statistics, but beyond that, we saw our systems were stretched, emergency rooms overwhelmed jails and law enforcement handling mental health crises,” said Eric Sexton, executive director of BRADD.

Arrests due to substance abuse and mental health have caused overcrowding in jails. In 2023 alone, 900 calls were made to Bowling Green Police Department for mental health related crises, which averages to almost three per day. There are also currently 687 inmates in Warren County Regional Jail and only 562 beds. This new facility will aim to cut down on the number of calls and mental health related arrests while also helping get people the care they need.

When asked about the situation, State Rep. Kevin Jackson stated, “These are good people. They just have an addiction problem. They deserve an opportunity to get better, and we feel like this facility is going to give them from the time they walk in the door they are going to have 24 hour care, seven days a week.”

This is the first facility of its kind in Kentucky and was modeled after some of the best facilities in the nation. It will offer 24/7 care and allow those who need to stay anywhere from 24 hours to 30 days. Pharmacy services for medication, along with treatment for mental health and substance abuse, will be provided as well.

These services are provided through Kentucky Medicaid and will be of no cost to those who are there.

“That will be our primary funding source,” president and CEO of LifeSkills Joe Dan Beavers, said.

Beavers also said that all 10 counties and 25 municipalities have “committed to donate a portion of those funds to help this over an 18-year period.”

After the groundbreaking today, construction is set to begin with the expectation to be finished by winter 2026. Visit https://planning.bradd.org/opioid-summit/ for more information on the Anchor Project.