Adams County opens grant application process to distribute money from opioid settlement

QUINCY — Prescription opioids were involved in more than 263,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020.

Opioid manufacturers and distributors offered a “master settlement” in 2021 to resolve lawsuits brought against them for false marketing and commercial distribution as non-habit-forming medicines. The total opioid settlement funds obligated to states, counties and cities are more than $50 billion as of July 2023.

Adams County is a participant in this settlement and expects to receive $1.5 million or more over the next decade to address the impacts of the epidemic.

The Adams County Board has created the Adams County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee comprised of content experts and governmental representatives to administer opioid settlement funds distributed to the county.

A grant application process for organizations seeking funding to support or develop programs that will decrease the burden of opioids and other addictive and harmful substances now is open. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis as settlement payments become available to the county.

The application process can be found at https://www.adamscountyil.gov/nationalopiodsettlementfund.

The webpage outlines Adams County’s settlement funding, application criteria, funding priorities and the submission process. It eventually will have summaries of funded projects and the impact made on the community by these projects. Technical assistance for applicants is available by email at opioidfund@adamscountyil.gov.

In a press release, Jerrod Welch, Adams County Health Department public health administrator, said, “The opioid crisis is a serious public health issue, and we are committed to using these funds to make a positive and lasting impact. By supporting organizations with proven strategies and new initiatives, we can help save lives and strengthen our community.”

Grant funding will be awarded to projects that align with acceptable usages of the National Opioid Settlement Funds found in Exhibit B in the master settlement, which will be available on the Adams County Opioid Settlement Fund webpage.

“We encourage all qualified organizations working to address the opioid crisis to apply for this funding,” said Dr. Robert Reich of the Adams County Board. “Together, we can make a significant difference in the fight against addiction in Adams County.”