Alabama Contemplates Dollar 250 Million: Alabama is poised to gain over $250 million from opioid lawsuit settlements, and the state’s legislators are soliciting input on how to allocate these funds. In 2021, Alabama witnessed more than 1,400 drug overdose deaths, with opioids playing a significant role.
Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry highlighted the impact of the opioid crisis on jails, emphasizing the need for increased staff at substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities.
Deputies are responding to an average of three drug-induced or mentally ill-related calls per day, underlining the strain on law enforcement dealing with mental health issues within jails. Gentry proposed allocating funds to address this issue promptly.
The committee also heard from Emergent Biosolutions, the producer of Narcan, a nasal spray reversing opioid overdoses, stressing the importance of access to naloxone in combating the opioid epidemic.
Amanda Becker, Emergents vice president of marketing, emphasized the critical role of opioid overdose reversal medications and the need for a comprehensive strategy.
The committee explored various avenues, including expanding drug courts, which have proven effective in addressing addiction issues. Rich Hobson, administrative director of state courts, highlighted the success of accountability courts, saving the state significant funds and positively impacting lives.
The committee will continue its meetings to gather input on utilizing the state’s opioid settlement funds, expected to reach over $270 million over 10-15 years. Earlier this year, lawmakers allocated $1.5 million to the Alabama Department of Corrections for inmate treatment programs and $8.5 million to the Alabama Department of Public Health, initiating a grant process for its allocation.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What does Alabama spend the most money on?
Alabama’s FY2024 budget was approved in June 2023, revealing a $8.8 billion allocation for the Education Trust Fund and a $3.0 billion allocation for general fund spending. This represents a 7% and 10% increase, respectively, compared to the previous budget.
How much money does the University of Alabama have?
As of September 30, 2022, the University held assets and deferred outflows of resources totaling $5.6 billion, while liabilities and deferred inflows of resources amounted to $2.8 billion. This resulted in a net position of $2.7 billion.