Commissioners adopt local abatement plan to unlock opioid settlement funds for treatment and prevention

Kent County commissioners unanimously approved the county’s local abatement plan — the second part of a state-required process — that allows the county to receive and distribute opioid settlement funds for treatment, prevention and mitigation programs.

Joanne and county health officials described the local abatement plan as a report to the state documenting that the county has established a special revenue fund and a grant process to receive its allocation of targeted abatement awards from the national opioid settlement. The county previously adopted a resolution establishing the special revenue fund; commissioners confirmed that the plan describes local priority needs identified by the local health department and the local drug advisory committee (LDAC).

Once the county submits the approved plan, the state will release Kent County’s allocation into the newly created fund. County staff said the plan does not yet specify individual subgrant awards; instead it outlines priority areas for prevention, treatment and mitigation and authorizes the county to create a competitive application process for community partners.

Commissioners said the funding is targeted and must be used consistent with the settlement and that the county will use a community grant process to distribute funds to local providers and programs.