Leon County Approves Opioid Funding to Strengthen Treatment and Prevention

On October 14th, the Leon County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved opioid litigation settlement funds for 2026, authorized contracts with organizations providing treatment and support for people affected by opioids and approved the purchase of emergency equipment to respond to overdoses.

Leon County’s opioid overdose rate remains low compared to the state. Overall, in the County, opioid overdoses per 10,000 people have decreased from 4.57 to 3.93 between August 2024 and July 2025. During that same period, statewide overdoses per 10,000 individuals have decreased from 14.13 to 9.64. Although the rate has steadily declined since 2024, the County remains committed to providing treatment and support services for those with opioid addictions and continues to work on reducing the impact of this abuse in the community.

The County will continue to collaborate with DISC Village, a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse prevention and treatment services. The state recognizes the group as a Certified Abuse Treatment provider, and they are the only local provider of MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment). This treatment is the use of approved medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapy; a method that supports long-term recovery by addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction. Within 2025, DISC Village has assisted about 643 Leon County residents.

Leon County will also further collaborate with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office to provide opioid substance abuse treatment. Additionally, the County will be updating EMS vehicle equipment to better assist with opioid overdoses. This includes the purchase of approximately four transport ventilators.

The Board of Commissioners has also agreed to continue work with 2-1-1 Big Bend, a Lyft transportation service that provides free round-trip rides to medical appointments, food pantries, employment agencies, and job interviews. They have agreed to expand the current partnership to ensure residents with opioid or other substance use disorders have consistent access to treatment providers, such as DISC.