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Committee approves administration review of opioid-settlement spending; Fire Rescue lists equipment priorities
Summary
Committee agreed that the administration should submit eligible uses for opioid-settlement funding, including grants to Claritel Behavioral Health, the Sheriff’s Office and Public Health; Fire Rescue proposed items including whole-blood kits, portable ultrasound, MIH testing and narcotics storage upgrades.
The committee reviewed proposed disbursements of DeKalb County’s opioid-settlement funds and took a committee-level action asking the county administration to identify and forward all eligible expenditures described by Fire Rescue.
Chair Nicole Messiah summarized the proposed first tranche disbursements: approximately $1.3 million to Claritel Behavioral Health, about $620,000 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and roughly $430,000 to DeKalb Public Health (figures as discussed in committee materials and presentations). These funds are intended to support county residents suffering from opioid-use disorders and to buy life-saving equipment and services.
Chief of Fire Rescue (presenting) outlined a package of requests to enhance EMS responses: expanding the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) “HEALS” program with in-home blood testing to identify health issues contributing to frequent 911 calls; portable ultrasound devices to evaluate internal injuries on scene; a “whole blood” program to deliver blood on scene for trauma patients; replacement Toughbook computers for ambulance crews to better document and transmit care; and a narcotics inventory control system plus secured storage for controlled substances carried on units. Chief said year-to-date the county had responded to 723 suspected overdoses and recorded 24 suspected overdose deaths.
County administration asked that the motion direct staff to evaluate these items for eligibility under the opioid settlement terms and bring forward eligible expenses. The committee approved the motion to have administration move forward with eligible items and return with details.
Why it matters: Opioid-settlement funds are legally constrained by settlement terms and must be used for programming and equipment that address substance-use disorder prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction. Fire Rescue’s equipment and program proposals aim to strengthen pre-hospital care for overdose and trauma patients and to improve continuity of care.
What’s next: Administration will review the list of proposed purchases and programs for settlement-eligibility and present a recommended disbursement plan for committee and full-board approval.
