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Gadsden County approves core opioid recovery network funding for EMS and local providers
Summary
The Gadsden County Commission voted unanimously to accept and allocate the county's share of opioid settlement "core" funds to a coordinated recovery network, directing payments to EMS, DISC Village and Apalachee Center and asking staff to report back on implementation and reporting requirements.
Kathy Johnson, Gadsden County's health care coordinator, told the board that Florida received more than $3 billion from nationwide opioid settlements and that the county's request was to accept and pass through core-network funds restricted to rehabilitation and recovery.
"These funds are evidence-based and approved providers are approved to work within this network," Johnson said, describing four settlement "bags" of money and explaining that the core funds are restricted for abatement, medication-assisted treatment and recovery services. She told commissioners the proposal would fund three local providers: Gadsden County EMS, DISC Village and Apalachee Center.
Johnson emphasized the programs will be community-facing and include a peer specialist component to connect people to treatment quickly. "When I'm out there distributing Narcan, please do not consider it a stigma," Johnson said. "It is one of the things that are saving people in our community." DISC/Apalachee representatives added that the network will support 24/7 EMS coverage for initial medication induction and then hand off longer-term care to outpatient providers.
Commissioners asked how community providers such as Sojourners on Strong Road would be considered; Johnson said providers must apply and be placed where appropriate under Florida's network rules and with an eye to the fiscal-year deadlines (June 30 for FY2025-26 spending). Commissioners also pressed staff on jail-based medication-in-treatment initiatives and outreach strategies; presenters said jail services are part of the network planning and that EMS will handle initial inductions with follow-up by treatment providers.
The board moved and unanimously approved use of the core funds to support the local network and directed staff to return with an implementation plan and the formal agreement language required for reporting and financial oversight.
The county attorney and staff noted that non-core settlement funds (primary and secondary pharmacy allocations and nonqualified funds) remain available for other purposes such as prevention, outreach and equipment, and that those funds have different reporting and match requirements.
