OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS DISTRIBUTED - Westfair Communications

County Executive George Latimer, left, and Assistant County Executive Ken Jenkins, right, flank the staff addressing opioid addiction in Westchester.

Focused on treatment, prevention, recovery, harm reduction services and other critical resources, Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) distributed more than $4.1 million dollars to local organizations to combat the opioid and overdose crisis head-on.

Latimer said, “This funding is a crucial step in our ongoing battle against addiction and the opioid crisis. By supporting local organizations dedicated to treatment, prevention, recovery and harm reduction, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by this epidemic.”

The $4.1 million dollars is the result of a 2019 suit brought by New York State Attorney General Letitia James against several drug distributers and manufacturers across the state. A total of $5.8 million dollars was awarded to the County through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Regional Opioid Abatement Funding to address overdose deaths in Westchester. The $4,118,841 funds are the first round of allocation, additional Request for Proposals will be released shortly to address other identified needs by the Westchester County Opioid Response and Overdose Prevention Initiative (ORI) planning committee.

In February 2022, in response to the rise of overdose deaths across Westchester County, Latimer launched ORI. ORI brought together the Departments of Community Mental Health, Social Services, Public Safety, Health, Corrections, Probation, Youth Bureau, the Medical Examiner’s office and the District Attorney’s Office to address the issue.

The ORI issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting local community organizations to submit proposals for use of the settlement funds in the categories of prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery. Additional needs were identified in safety equipment.

Westchester County Commissioner of the Department of Community Mental Health Michael Orth said: “I want to thank County Executive Latimer and the members of the ORI Committee for their hard work and dedication in making this possible. While there are many programs working to help people, we were able to allocate a substantial amount of money to groups that are standing at the forefront of this. Every day we learn about the horrors of Fentanyl and other drugs that find their way into our society and the dangers they post to even come in contact with them. The ORI committee will continue to work with the community to develop ideas to help people and keep them safe.”

The Harris Project Founder and CEO Stephanie Marquesano said: “Ten years after the death of my 19-year-old son Harris by accidental overdose, I remain steadfast in my belief that Westchester County is leading the way for the nation in addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Through this funding, Westchester County is investing in best practices and innovation that not only honors the memory of lives lost too soon, but also paves the way for first-of-its-kind Co-Occurring Disorders Awareness curriculum, enhanced early intervention opportunities, increased access to evidence-based treatment protocols, and impactful system change. It was significant to stand with the County Executive when Westchester County filed suit against the opioid manufacturers, and I am grateful to see the strategic utilization of these funds by the Department of Community Mental Health and Opioid Response Initiative Committee.”