Dallas County could award up to $3 million to nonprofit organizations to help fight the opioid use crisis.
At least six local organizations recently submitted proposals to Dallas County.
The money would come from a pot of about $31 million awarded when Dallas County sued Purdue Pharmaceuticals and many others.
The grants would be for prevention and treatment services, and supplies and equipment.
If chosen, each nonprofit could receive up to $500,000 each over two years. The decision on the grants could be announced by the end of summer.
Southwestern Medical Foundation, Nexus Recovery Center Incorporated, Dallas County MHMR Metrocare Services, Assured Heart Foundation, Youth180 and Homeward Bound, Inc. submitted proposals and attended a virtual meeting for questions.
Commissioner John Wiley Price says local groups helping to fight opioid and substance use deserve more money.
“In my opinion, you're talking three quarters to $1 million. You're talking about two years, 500,000," Price said. "This is a difficult population, and so you don't get a chance to breeze by them. It's going to take a lot of work. We've got to do this right.”
A separate pot of $16.5 million in opioid settlement money Texas has received so far will be dispersed over time to health-related state agencies and departments.
Last week the Supreme Court blocked Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan protecting it from opioid-related lawsuits.
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