AGENDA DATE: 5/3/2023
TITLE:
Title
Cooperative Agreements for Competitive Opioid Abatement Authority Grants
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve staff request to permit County Executive to sign cooperative agreements as part of application for funding from the Opioid Abatement Authority
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Rosenberg, Bohdan, Dimock, Birch, Sumner
PRESENTER (S): Kaki Dimock, Jacob Sumner
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In 2017, several high-profile lawsuits filed against the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing and distributing opioids were consolidated into one Federal case, which was negotiated on behalf of all participating states, including Virginia. Anticipating significant financial distributions from pharmaceutical companies, the Virginia General Assembly established the Opioid Abatement Authority in 2021, Chapter 21, Article 12 of the Virginia State Code. The Opioid Abatement Authority was created 'as an independent body [whose]purpose is to abate and remediate the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth through financial support from the Fund, in the forms of grants, donations, or other assistance, for efforts to treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids in the Commonwealth'.
Funds from the consolidated settlement will be distributed directly to localities from the affected companies, through the Opioid Abatement Authority as direct allocation and through a competitive one-year grant, which may be renewed for up to five years. The Opioid Abatement Authority's initial grant-making cycle opens May 5, 2023. Funds may be used to treat, prevent, or reduce opioid use disorder or the misuse of opioids or otherwise abate or remediate the opioid epidemic. Eligible applicants must work in collaboration with at least one other locality and the local community service board as defined by a cooperative agreement.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Inf...
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