POLK COUNTY, Iowa — Polk County will distribute almost $1 million in opioid settlement funds to organizations dedicated to supporting people impacted by substance use.
The county will allocate the money to five different organizations over the next two years: Bridges of Iowa, Full Circle Recovery, Primary Health Care, St. Vincent de Paul and UCS Healthcare.
"The main goal of these projects is to provide immediate, direct support for people who have been harmed by the opioid epidemic, which follows the intent of the opioid settlements," said Annie Uetz, director of Polk County Behavioral Health & Disability Services.
As of 2021, 45% of Polk County residents said their lives had been negatively affected by substance abuse, nearly 10% higher than the national average, Polk County said in a report.
In addition, overdoses almost doubled in Polk County from 2018-2021, and 88% of drug overdose deaths in Iowa had at least one opportunity for intervention.
As such, the county identified four strategic priorities surrounding opioid settlement funds:
- Defection and prearrest diversion
- Recovery housing
- Jail reentry
- Supports for people with lived experiences
Find a full breakdown of Polk County's strategic plan here.
Polk County received opioid settlement funds by way of the state's participation in a nationwide settlement. Under an Iowa Memorandum of Understanding, 50% of opioid settlement funds received by the state of Iowa are allocated to the state government, while the other 50% is distributed to local governments. Polk County received 22.8% of all local funding.