KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners could spend some of the money they are getting from the billions being paid nationally because of opioid settlements.
Drug firms, distributors and pharmacies are all paying for their part in causing the opioid crisis. Kalamazoo County’s share is still being totaled as some of the settlements are still in the courts.
Deputy County Administrator Lyndi Warner says they have received a $1.5 million dollar check from Meijer and a few other early payments, which now total $3 million.
She says the settlements require that most of the money be spent on drug treatment and prevention.
They already have requests from the fund, including $5,000 to do a community needs assessment, $90,000 to screen criminal suspects for drugs, and nearly $200,000 for a full body scanner for the Kalamazoo County Jail. The scanner would be used to detect illicit drugs on inmates.
She says Kalamazoo’s Opioid Coalition formed in 2017 and it’s already had early discussions on what to do with the funding.
One request still pending is a full time person to administer the fund and help with the work of the coalition.
The county board will consider the three requests later today.
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