Leon County Commission Allocates Opioid Settlement Funds

On April 9, the Leon County Commission voted unanimously to distribute $2,395,366 in opioid litigation settlement funds and approved an agreement with Big Bend Community Based Care, LLC, doing business as Northwest Florida Health Network (NWFHN) , on behalf of the State of Florida. The agreement states the settlement funds will be used for the provision of substance abuse treatment services resulting from opioid abuse and the purchase of EMS equipment to address opioid use disorders in the community.

According to the agenda item, in November and December of 2023, the NWFHN informed the Board that Leon County will receive an additional $11.6 million in opioid litigation settlement funds over the next 18 years.

The agenda item authorized staff to enter into and execute an agreement with DISC Village, Inc. for substance abuse treatment and ancillary services for individuals with opioid and substance use disorders in the community.

DISC Village is a not-for-profit agency recognized by the State to provide substance abuse prevention and treatment services in the Big Bend Region.

Under the agreement, DISC Village will provide substance abuse treatment, as well as ancillary recovery and support services to people involved in the criminal justice system. Additionally, DISC Village will provide pre-trial screenings to connect people involved in the criminal justice system with additional behavioral health services in the community. The agreement details the anticipated number of clients to be served, the required coordination with community partners, and referral process through first responders, the Courts, and self-referrals. Preliminary figures anticipate serving 150-200 clients including court-ordered referrals.

The settlements will also be allocated to upgrade EMS vehicle equipment to better respond to opioid overdose calls. The funds will upgrade monitoring equipment that record vital signs, analyze heart rhythms, and monitors breathing. The upgraded monitoring equipment will further enhance the EMS care and result in improved patient safety and outcomes.