Vote — approved

Bill Gates	yes
Clint Hickman	yes
Jack Sellers	yes
Thomas Galvin	yes
Steve Gallardo	yes

Ayes: Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin, Steve Gallardo

Item Text

91. OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND EXPENDITURE APPROVAL Approve the use of $2 Million of Opioid Settlement Funds for the purpose of enhancing substance use abatement initiatives in Maricopa County. Funds will be prioritized for services related to youth prevention and treatment, increasing warm-hand-off programs and recovery services, and expanding harm reduction programs. To maximize the benefits of national opioid settlement dollars and reduce duplication of work addressed through other substance use prevention and response funding streams, Public Health has hired a contractor to conduct a comprehensive substance use needs assessment during the first quarter of 2023. This assessment will inform the development of a dynamic, countywide substance use prevention and response plan and will help identify short-and long-term investments needed to reach desired outcomes. While this critical data is being collected, there is urgent need now to maintain and expand substance use intervention initiatives in Maricopa County, especially among populations disproportionately affected by opioid overdose and other harms caused by substance use. The Initial priorities of the initiative will focus on youth prevention and treatment, increasing warm-hand-off programs and recovery services, and expanding harm reduction programs. These areas of focus are derived from core abatement strategies outlined in the national opioid settlement agreements and are supported by the https://opioidprinciples.jhsph.edu/implementation-tools/. Initiatives that are trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, equitable in approach and target populations in communities who are most affected by overdose risk and other harms caused by substance use in Maricopa County will be strongly encouraged for funding consideration. (C-86-23-089-X-00)