Over the last year, Polk County Public Health Director Sarah Reese has served on the Minnesota Attorney General’s Advisory Panel for the Opioid Settlement and Distribution. This summer, Governor Tim Walz signed a bill that will direct how the state will spend its more than $300 million opioid lawsuit settlement aimed at funding the fight against opioid addiction and overdose deaths.
The settlement is part of a $26 billion multi-state settlement with drug manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. The funds are expected to come to Minnesota starting this fall, with 75 percent of the funding ($222 million) will go to local governments, with the state keeping 25 percent of the settlement.
Polk County’s share of the settlement is $1.9 million, to be dispersed over 18 years. The harms of alcohol, other drugs – including legal and illegal opioids, and suicide continue to impact individuals and families in our communities. The funds can be used for prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, research, and/or training.
As part of the Minnesota Opioids State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement, Local Public Health officials in Minnesota counties are the chief strategists for convening multi-sector partners/community members to recommend how funds are dispersed. “Health is created where people live, work, and play. It is essential to draw on the expertise and lived experiences of our community members and partners,” said Reese. As such, Polk County Public Health seeks multi-sector partners and community members to participate in the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council. The Council will advise Polk County Public Health and the Polk County Board of Commissioners on how to utilize the Opioid Settlement funds most effectively, efficiently, and equitably. To be considered for the Advisory Council, complete the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council application here: https://bit.ly/3VY4bgX
Sheriff Jim Tadman, Karen Warmack, Social Services Director, and Reese look forward to utilizing a community-focused and collaborative effort with evidence-informed and innovative strategies to prevent and address addiction across our local communities.
For more information on county allocations, visit the Minnesota Attorney General’s website: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/opioids/SettlementAllocation.asp. For Polk County Opioid Settlement information, visit https://www.co.polk.mn.us/546/Opioid-Settlement-Advisory-Council.
A QR-code for an application to the Advisory Council can be found below-
Tags:
