Facing a sharp incline in opioid-related overdoses, Fort Worth has launched a financial offensive to turn the tide on the epidemic. Thanks to a hefty settlement, north of $660,000 is being flushed into the community, aimed at education, treatment, and support for those grappling with addiction, as reported by the City of Fort Worth.
Here’s the deal. In 2022, the stats were bleak, with MedStar Mobile Health clocking in three overdoses a day, come August. Flash forward to 2023, and the city's coffers saw the first installment of a potential $4 million, courtesy of the Opioid Abatement Fund Council after the City Council decided to sign onto a multibillion-dollar legal settlement with opioid heavy hitters, like manufacturers and distributors of the addictive meds.
The cash windfall is a subplot of a legal drama where the Texas Attorney General negotiated a $1.5 billion cut of a staggering $50 billion settlement. These funds are now earmarked for Texas communities; they're fuel for the fight against the opioid scourge through prevention and recovery services. Fort Worth's piece of the pie, some $665,760, got tucked into a special fund, stockpiled under the watchful eye of the Neighborhood Services Department, now funding critical initiatives.
The big winners of the first funding are a trio of local heavy-hitters. SaferCare Texas and the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s School of Public Health nabbed $310,339 to educate the masses on opioid intervention. Then there's My Health My Resources of Tarrant County, landing $197,100 to prop up in-office opioid treatments and crucial counseling services. Also, the Fort Worth Fire Department's HOPE Team is in the funding mix, with $157,505.64. They’ve got a plan to wrap their arms around the homeless and others hitting the emergency services on repeat, by offering them access to needed resources.
