Health department updates committee on opioid funding, kratom and back‑to‑school services

Beth Wise, speaking on behalf of the Effingham County Health Department, updated the committee on several public‑health items, including opioid family‑services, kratom availability and back‑to‑school immunization clinics.

On opioid funding, Wise said the county’s family‑services program has helped two families so far and follows a rigorous application process with a two‑month follow‑up after funds are released to check outcomes. "We do have a pretty rigorous application for that for the funding, that they do have to meet, and then we do follow‑up with them," she said.

Wise warned the committee about kratom sales and availability in retail outlets: "It's not FDA approved here...it's a synthetic opioid derived from the kratom plant, and it's 13 more times more potent than morphine," she said. (The committee discussed a city ordinance; staff said they will review the ordinance language and evaluate whether a county‑level restriction is appropriate for unincorporated areas.)

Wise also described health‑department services now available locally, including expanded lab offerings, monthly reduced‑rate labs ($20 on the first Tuesday of each month), and back‑to‑school immunization clinics (first clinic July 22). She noted a free public webinar on tobacco industry tactics and youth targeting scheduled for Aug. 11.

Committee members asked whether municipalities or the county should adopt kratom restrictions; staff said they will obtain the city’s ordinance language and consult the state's attorney on county options. No county ordinance was adopted at the meeting.