Harford to host two more local listening sessions to gather public input on the best use of opioid restitution funds in the community. Final meetings to be held on May 14th and May 21st. 

Funds are being distributed by the state of Maryland to Harford, and other jurisdictions, through the state’s Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF). The fund was established to receive settlement payments from legal actions taken against pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies that contributed to the opioid epidemic. These listening sessions are a vital opportunity to gain insights from community members with lived experiences of either struggling themselves or helping those who need support. Residents looking to participate can register here.

Collaboration across state a local divisions is paramount to the success of the funded programs. Covered previously on Conduit Street, The Maryland Office of Overdose Response (MOOR) is also tasked with assessing needs and priorities for community members in Maryland suffering from an opioid use disorder. They embarked on a regional tour to hear from community members as well to inform the state level processes and priorities. The MOOR website has a regional report available for each of those listening sessions.

Another way they stay in touch with local jurisdictions is through the Overdose Prevention Teams (OPTs)that are required for any jurisdiction receiving settlement funds from the State discretionary share. A year end recap of statewide implementation for those OPTs across all 24 jurisdictions can be found in the 2023 MOOR Fourth Quarter Program Inventory Report.

Read the MACo Policy Deep Dive on Maryland’s opioid settlement funds distribution plan.