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Task force to press hospital on COBRA referrals and review opioid-settlement spending
Summary
Members agreed to schedule a meeting with Bristol Hospital to revive COBRA diversion referrals and asked staff to audit how opioid-settlement dollars were spent, including prior camera purchases at the hospital; the task force will report findings at the next meeting.
Mayor Ellen Zapposasu and task force members agreed to follow up with Bristol Hospital to restore the COBRA diversion pathway and asked staff to produce an inventory of opioid-settlement spending.
The mayor noted it has been “a while” since hospital–police COBRA meetings occurred; task force participants said COBRA permits officers to divert individuals with substance-use disorders to hospital treatment instead of arrest, with the hope they accept treatment beds. Police and BBHD representatives said they want to get the hospital back to regular coordination and to increase COBRA referrals.
Participants also discussed prior uses of opioid-settlement money. Several members said some funds paid for security cameras at Bristol Hospital’s ER alcoves and that a grant had been used to support certain local programs (one reference was made to payments to an organization identified verbally). The mayor asked staff to compile the remaining balance and return with a report so members can determine immediate needs and possible reallocation.
The task force recorded three near-term action items: (1) schedule a hospital meeting to reestablish COBRA coordination, (2) audit remaining opioid-settlement dollars and report at the March meeting, and (3) coordinate pamphlet and leave-behind kit revisions for distribution by police, EMS and outreach partners.
