Michigan governments are slated to receive nearly $1.8 billion from opioid settlements by 2040. 50% of the settlement amount will be distributed directly to county, city and township governments. (Photo courtesy of the State of Michigan)

ESCANABA — The Delta County Opioid Taskforce recently held the inaugural Upper Peninsula Opioid Taskforce Gathering, uniting community members and professionals for a working session on opioid settlement funding and prevention efforts.

The event was hosted by the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) with support from the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that aims to promote education, communication and cooperation among Michigan county government officials. The Delta County Opioid Taskforce sponsored the gathering.

Approximately 40 professionals from Upper Peninsula counties that have received opioid settlement funds attended to gain insight into how the funding can be accessed and used. Several members of the Delta County Opioid Taskforce gave presentations during the event.

Those serving on the Delta County taskforce include: Chairperson Steve Howes, Escanaba School Board member; Vice Chairperson Francie Myrick, retired family practice medical doctor; Secretary Whitney Maloney, City of Gladstone commissioner; Kelli van Ginhoven, Delta County commissioner; Christine Williams, Delta County commissioner; Lauren Wickman, Delta County prosecutor; Todd Tardiff, Delta County sheriff; Emily DeSalvo, Delta County administrator; Whitney Kolich, peer support specialist; Dana Capp, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director; and Kyle Kelly.

Van Ginhoven and Williams initiated the conference after hearing from other counties seeking guidance on how to spend opioid settlement funds.

“There’s been a lot of unspent money statewide due to the counties not being aware on how to go about this, and this is the primary reason why Commissioners Van Ginoven and Williams decided to have this conference,” Howes said.

The taskforce was created after Delta County was awarded $1.6 million in opioid settlement funds in March 2023. The funding will be distributed over 16 years.

According to Howes, the funds are designated for opioid remediation, including prevention, treatment and other community needs. The taskforce was established to oversee the administration and transparency of these funds, he said.

In recent years, Michigan and other states have reached settlements with drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies over their role in the opioid epidemic.

According to the State of Michigan, the funds are intended to support treatment, prevention, recovery and harm reduction efforts.

The Michigan Department of Attorney General states that Michigan governments are expected to receive nearly $1.8 billion from opioid settlements by 2040. Half of the settlement money will go directly to county, city and township governments.

The remaining 50% will be placed into the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, according to the attorney general’s office.

Michigan legislature further outlines how settlement funds are distributed, the procedure for the taskforce and its duties.

Howes said that in 2021, 30 professional and advocacy organizations developed five principals to guide state and local governments in the use of opioiod settlement funds.

“They are: spend money and save lives, use evidence base practices to guide spending, invest in youth prevention, focus on racial equity and develop a fair and transparent process on deciding where to spend funding,” Howes said. “The problem is a lot of counties have been granted funds and are not using these. Our goal is to educate by providing information on how to proceed.”

The Delta County Opioid Taskforce offers grant opportunities of up to $30,000 with mini-grant opportunities of up to $3,000. According to the county’s website, the number of grants awarded will vary, depending on the funding amount that is available annually for allocation.

Among the projects funded by the taskforce in Delta County was a $30,000 grant to Escanaba Area Public Schools for vaping detection devices.

“Vaping is a gateway drug, and other substances can be used through vaping,” Howes said.

Another $8,000 grant was awarded to the Escanaba Student Success Center for similar vaping detection devices.

Howes added, “The devices have been proven to be successful thus far. Both schools indicated they have noticed a deterrent effect.”

Additionally, $30,000 was awarded to the Delta County Drug & Sobriety Court.

“This program was created and has been instrumental on changing many lives. Thanks to the leadership of the Honorable Stephen Parks for creating this program,” Howes said.

Great Lakes Recovery Centers also received $30,000 to help provide inpatient beds for individuals suffering from opioid addiction who require advanced care.

For more information on the Delta County Opioid Taskforce and grant opportunities, visit the county’s website at https://deltacountymi.gov/opioid-taskforce/.

The taskforce also meets the first Friday of every month in the Delta County Service Center boardroom, 2920 College Ave., Escanaba.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.