The Lake County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Wednesday to open proposals from seven local organizations to receive a portion of nearly $2 million in its first distribution of funding from the state in opioid lawsuit settlements.
Tiffany’s House Recovery, Sounds of Sarah, Inc., Flourish Community Development Corp., Lake County Family Recovery Court, Regional Health Systems, Shine Recovery Café and Gary Harm Reduction all submitted proposals for $25,000, the maximum amount organizations could apply for, officials said.
Indiana was devastated by the opioid epidemic, according to a release from the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. From 2012 through 2016, there were 58 counties where opioid prescription rates were greater than 100 prescriptions per 100 residents, according to the release.
The state has received about $925 million from various pharmaceutical companies in settlements from lawsuits addressing the opioid crisis, according to the attorney general’s release.
Indiana received $508 million from the $26 billion national settlement with Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson; $59.4 million from the $3.1 billion national settlement with Walmart; $219 million in an agreement with CVS and Walgreens; $128 million from the $5.27 billion agreement with Allergan and Teva and $7.6 million from the $350 million national settlement with Publicis, according to the attorney general’s release.
Lake County has received $1.6 million in restricted funds and $380,000 in unrestricted funds from the state’s opioid settlement funds, said Lake County Board of Commissioners’ attorney Matt Fech.
In August, the commissioners announced they were seeking proposals from organizations “that can deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches to addressing substance use” in Lake County. The funds will go toward projects that address treatment, prevention, recovery support and harm reduction, according to a county press release.
After opening the proposals, the commissioners voted 2-0, with commissioner Jerry Tippy absent, Wednesday to take the proposals under advisement. Fech said he will spearhead a committee, made up of judges, law enforcement, medical and health department officials, to review the proposals.
The committee will recommend which proposals should be granted, Fech said, which the commissioners will consider and discuss at their November meeting.
Gary Harm Reduction Executive Director Kristen Martin said she hopes the commissioners award the funds to organizations that directly work with people struggling with opioid use disorder.
“We are best fit to know what our community needs,” Martin said.
Commissioner Michael Repay, D-Hammond, said while the commissioners initially planned to award 20 grants, the county will be able to give out more funds through future requests for proposals.
Repay said he was pleased that seven organizations filed proposals and he’s hopeful each is the kind that “could use a shot in the arm” for the services provided.
“I’m glad we got that many proposals and I’m hopeful they are the ones that can use the money the best,” Repay said.