DeKalb County, along with other counties across Tennessee, is receiving funds awarded the state from opioid lawsuit settlements.

During last week’s County Commission Meeting of the Whole, County Mayor Matt Adcock announced that DeKalb has received $119,163 in restricted funds, and $99,470 in unrestricted money, from a trust fund set up by the state for a total of $225,647.

All 95 Tennessee counties have received a share of the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund of more than $31.4 million in payments from the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council. Mayor Matt Adcock told the commission that funds from DeKalb’s allotment of money can be made available to eligible agencies in DeKalb County who have requested funding.

“Agencies in DeKalb County were asked to submit a request for how much funding from the county’s opioid settlement funding they wished to receive to support their programs,” said County Mayor Adcock.

“All of these agencies have expressed what they would like to use the funds for and how much is needed to successfully bring to fruition or continuation of their programs. DeKalb County has received $119,163 of restricted opioid settlement funds that must meet the criteria of the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council’s remediation list. Unrestricted funds of the opioid abatement settlement funding totals to an amount of $99,470. The total amount of restricted and unrestricted funding is $218,634,” said Adcock.

Agencies making funding requests and the amounts are as follows:

·         Sheriff’s Department’s DARE Program: $10,000

·         Youth and Family Resources Network (Spot Program) $22,440

·         DeKalb Prevention Coalition $54,261

·         Recovery Court $60,000

Total: $146,701

County leaders are able to select activities for these funds from a list approved by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council. Approved uses include a continuation of opioid use disorder treatment programs, medication assisted treatment, recovery supports, and prevention measures.

Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in Public Chapter 491 to manage the disbursement of proceeds from lawsuits relating to opioids. The Council upholds the responsibility to ensure the disbursements of these funds go toward funding programs, strategies, expenditures, and other actions designed to prevent and address the misuse and abuse of opioid products and treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders or other effects of the opioid epidemic.