A windfall in Opioid settlement money from pharmaceutical manufacturers is beginning to be disbursed by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. There’s a long list of things on which the money can legally be spent and some specific things that are disallowed. In November presentations were made by 19 different private and public organization, and the county has been whittling them down. The county has received $10.5 Million and is projected to get a total of $38.9 Million in installments over the next 15 years. On Tuesday a preliminary grant of $4 Million was approved for a group called Community Opioid Response & Education, which intends to use it mostly for media campaigns and school presentations. They told the board that their overhead costs are around 2%, which Chairman Kevin Crye tried to slash, but the board ended up giving unanimous approval after scheduling review dates starting in 6 months.
-Steve Gibson