Recovery providers press Broward County for community-led plan as commissioners approve litigation participation

Community recovery providers urged the Broward County Commission on April 14 to formalize stakeholder engagement before finalizing strategies for distributing opioid settlement funds, warning that top-down allocation risked leaving gaps in housing, peer recovery supports and long-term recovery services.

Rick Ricardi of Fellowship Recovery Community told commissioners that Broward has already received roughly $46 million in opioid settlement proceeds and may expect additional with future payments nationally, but that only a fraction has been spent in ways aligned with on-the-ground needs. He asked the board to direct county administration to establish a formal process that includes providers, peer organizations, outreach teams and housing programs in prioritizing grants and RFPs.

County staff and commissioners said a cross-sector coalition—convened by United Way and the Broward Behavioral Health/Drug Prevention Coalition—has been meeting to develop a 2026–2029 opioid action plan that includes epidemiology, public surveys and town halls. County representatives said meetings with front-line providers are active and that allocations already in the pipeline reflect that outreach; staff also said the county had received approximately $46 million and that expenditures and allocations were largely committed or under contract.

Outcome: The commission voted to approve the county’s participation agreement regarding opioid litigation (item 40) after public comment and staff briefing. Commissioners urged continued outreach to providers and clarity about how remaining funds will be allocated.

Attribution: Quotes and attributions are drawn from public comment and staff remarks recorded in the meeting transcript.