Copyright Austin Daily Herald
“This is a community thing.” Those were the words of an attendee of the Opioid Advisory Committee’s first public meeting in November of 2023 and just about three years to the day, the committee will hold its third meeting. Planned for Nov. 20, from 5:30-7 p.m., this meeting is a chance for the public to hear about the committee’s work in distributing opioid settlement funds to worthy projects in our county. However, it’s also a chance for people from all walks of life to comment on what ideas they would like to see come out of the committee’s work, because as those words establish in the opening of this opinion reinforce, this is a community effort. First and foremost, the committee needs projects to come forth. To date, the committee has distributed close to $250,000 to 12 projects that includes a variety of different things, including a Naloxone vending machine, Recovery is Happening’s Recovery Walk and most recently, emergency medical devices that were distributed to EMS agencies within the county. These are impact projects that will contribute directly to the effort of keeping people alive, but there is room for plenty more as the OAC has over $500,000 more, not to mention the millions of dollars the county will receive over the span of years leading up to 2041. Minnesota received $300 million from the first round of settlement funds and another $235 million in the second round. Between the two, Mower is slated to receive just over $2.1 million spread over the total span of 18 years, receiving its first payment of over $41,000 in October of 2022. This represents a well that needs to be dipped into. According to Allison Scott, of Mower Health and Human Services and who is also a member of the OAC, “Someone dies every six and a half minutes in our country from an overdose. Mower County isn’t any different.” That statistic right there is a red flag as to how important this money can be in the future and it requires all of us to be a part of it, not only in an effort to get the word out but to actively take part. That foundation will need to come from across the spectrum, including those with lived experiences. According to an Associated Press article in December of 2024, people with substance use disorder were not getting a say in how the money is being spent across the country. Within that story, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University School of Public Health and a former member of the Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, said that advisory groups, such as the OAC, that have experts and those with drug use experience have helped speed the funds along a quicker path — either in harm reduction or other efforts. He attributed that to the fact that those on the committees knew those groups. “"It’s not just a way to ensure that the funds are used effectively,” Brandon Marshall said. “Those kinds of systems are also ensuring the funds are getting out the door faster.” That’s the work of the OAC and the reason why the public not only should be involved, but should be involved in the Nov. 20 meeting. With the epidemic of opioid abuse looming large over all of us, there needs to be an expedited passion in getting the money to where it needs to go in order to save lives. Again, the meeting is from 5:30-7 p.m. and will be at the Government Center, located at 201 First Street NE. Even if you don’t have ideas now, we encourage you to attend, because this is also where ideas can grow into something more.
