Almost $4 million dollars is being distributed to local organizations to help fight the opioid crisis in Onondaga County.
Republican Legislators Julie Abbott, Colleen Gunnip and Ken Bush, Jr. recently joined County Executive Ryan McMahon in announcing the funding, in a press event held at the Red House Arts Center in Syracuse.
The money comes after Onondaga County took on opioid pharmaceutical manufacturers in court and won.
“It is appropriate and important that these settlement funds be invested directly in communities affected by the opioid crisis by supporting treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts” Gunnip (4th District) said. “I was happy to be a part of the committee to decide how the initial funding would be distributed.”
The Onondaga County Health Department is getting the largest portion: $1.28 million dollars. They’ll use the money for mental health and substance use initiatives, including prevention programs for the school aged population, increased access to harm reduction tools through mobile services and improved case management for high-need individuals.
Catholic Charities is receiving $750,000 which it will use for its harm reduction and recovery support programs.
Money will be spent on training and the hiring of specialized staff, as well as supporting the connection to treatment and recovery services with a focus on populations currently living in shelters or permanent supportive housing.
They’ll also look at whether an Overdose Prevention Center would be beneficial in Onondaga County.
Center for Court Innovation is receiving $500,000. They’ll use the money to start a pilot program focusing on the use of peer support workers and meeting people where they are congregating for substance use.
This program has been successful in New York City.
$90,000 is being awarded to ARISE for health and school-based mental health services, and Crouse Health is getting $450,000 to help expand their addiction treatment services.
Finally, the Red House Arts Center is getting $300,000 of the settlement funds for a non-traditional approach to curbing opioid addiction. They’ll develop a drug prevention curriculum for elementary age students that will then be delivered through live theatrical performances.
“Our community will benefit by all of the programs awarded funding, including the proposal by Red House to educate our young children through theatre and Catholic Charities to distribute more Naloxone and Fentanyl test strips” Gunnip said.
“This funding is another step in the battle of the opioid epidemic,” Bush said. “The epidemic impacts all parts of the county and it will need all community partners to take it on.“