Opioid settlement funds are going to good use as local governments begin implementing new programs with first round of distributions.

As covered previously on the Conduit Street blog, opioid settlement funds have begun filtering down to local jurisdictions for their share of the total distribution. Cecil County has been implementing its strategic plan since November last year, with the primary goal of reducing the number of opioid-related deaths. Major priorities include prevention and education, and centering the voices of those with previous substance use experiences.

A recent State of Reform update highlighted that Cecil County has created a comprehensive plan for responding to the opioid crisis and the use of these funds, and noted that considerable progress has been made in recent years in addressing overdoses and overdose-related deaths. In January, the county launched the Medications for Opioid Use Disorder program, which provided access to care and served 189 individuals within the first six months of implementation. The county also partnered with Voices of Hope, an organization that provides support to individuals and families in recovery. In the first year of the program officials logged 2,465 total encounters, connecting 753 individuals to behavioral health treatment.

Cecil County Health Officer, and chair of the Maryland Association of County Health Officers Legislative Committee, Lauren Levy shared some strategies for planning ahead based on a community needs assessment.

“We are hoping to dedicate some of the opioid settlement funds to conducting a behavioral health landscape assessment,” Levy said. “Our goal will be to assess the gaps in our current continuum of care, and identify strategies to address unmet needs.”

The Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council recently released recommendations for state allocated settlement funds. The report highlighted eight priority areas, a number of which are strategies being implemented in Cecil.