On Dec. 12, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved five projects to receive $412,045 in funding from the county’s share of the national opioid lawsuit settlements.
The board approved $108,025 for a Harm Reduction Coordinator and $244,020 for Orange County Emergency Services to create a Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT). The Reintegration Support Network, Grow Your World and Transition Support & Recovery Collaborative each received $20,000.
The Harm Reduction Coordinator will serve as Orange County Opioid Program Manager and will be responsible for overseeing the development, administration budget, grant management, and reporting for Orange County' s Opioid Settlement Program.
This position will work with closely with Orange County staff and community partners involved in community overdose prevention education, harm reduction, treatment opportunities and recovery support. They will ensure all reporting requirements are met for the Opioid Settlement Fund and pursue additional resources to advance this work.
The PORT team will help Orange County Emergency Medical Services (OC-EMS) fight the impacts of opioid overdoses. From 2018-22, OC-EMS observed a 226 percent increase in annual opioid overdoses requiring EMS.
PORTs are specialized teams that respond to opioid overdoses in real time or within 24-72 hours of the overdose event. Upon implementation, the OC-EMS PORT will meet individuals where they are at in their addiction by providing harm reduction resources, linkage to treatment services, and medication-assisted treatment( MAT) induction and administration.
This service will enable OC- EMS to fill an identified void and offer proven services that currently do not exist for individuals in Orange County that suffer from Opioid Use Disorder.
- Transition Support & Recovery Collaborative received $20,000 to purchase a Reentry Peer Support Specialist Curriculum from Texas to be utilized in training mentors.
- Grow Your World received $20,000 to support its naloxone, CPR and Mental Health First Aid community training program.
- The Reintegration Support Network received $20,000 to support some of the operating expense and contractual needs.
In 2018, the county participated in national litigation related to the opioid epidemic that led to a historic $26 billion agreement. Orange County will receive almost $7 million in settlement funds from the National Distributors/Jansen settlement to be paid out through 2040. In addition, Orange County will also receive funds from the National Opioid Abatement Trust II.
So far, the county has received five payments totaling $1,337,171 and awarded $1,222,697 in grants. Visit the Orange County website to learn more about the county's share of settlement funds.
To learn more about the opioid settlement and Orange County’s use of funds, visit the Orange County website at: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2998/Opioid-Settlement-Funds