St. Petersburg Allocates $1 Million from Opioid Settlement to Combat Crisis

In response to the escalating opioid crisis, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, has dedicated $1 million from an opioid settlement to empower nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing treatment and recovery support services.

The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, has taken a proactive stance in addressing the opioid crisis by allocating $1 million from an opioid settlement to nonprofit organizations. This funding will be used to bridge resource and service gaps in the community and support innovative proposals that are not currently receiving funding from other sources.

St. Petersburg Allocates $1 Million from Opioid Settlement to Combat Crisis

Grants will be awarded to organizations offering respite housing, overdose prevention, substance use prevention and education, harm reduction, and peer support, with priority given to proposals focused on respite housing, harm reduction, and peer support.

The funding is part of a larger settlement that will provide St. Petersburg with $6 million over 18 years. The city is committed to using this money to make a tangible impact on the opioid crisis and improve the lives of those affected.

St. Petersburg Allocates $1 Million from Opioid Settlement to Combat Crisis

Matthew Schaefer, the director of operations for Real Recovery Solutions, expressed appreciation for the allocation, emphasizing the ongoing need for addiction treatment and support. Real Recovery Solutions operates sober living facilities in Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region but is not eligible for the grant money. However, the organization collaborates with nonprofits that can use the funds to sponsor individuals in recovery.

According to Schaefer, one of the most pressing needs in the region is expanding access to affordable detox treatment. While some detox centers are privately funded and require full payment or insurance, others have long wait lists.

St. Petersburg Allocates $1 Million from Opioid Settlement to Combat Crisis

"Addicts are told, 'hey, you know, we're three to five days out from a bed,'" Schaefer said. "There's a lack of resources for our underfunded or noninsured community. I think that that could be a big help. Unfortunately, that three to five days could really, truly be life or death."

Nonprofit groups have until October 20 to apply for grant money through the city of St. Petersburg. The allocation of these funds is a testament to the city's commitment to combating the opioid crisis and providing vital support to individuals and families affected by addiction.

St. Petersburg Allocates $1 Million from Opioid Settlement to Combat Crisis

In addition to the grant funding, St. Petersburg is also working to increase the accessibility of naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug. The city recently partnered with a transit agency to place naloxone kits on buses and provide training to transit employees on how to use them.

These initiatives demonstrate St. Petersburg's comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. By investing in treatment, recovery support services, and overdose prevention, the city is working to save lives and empower individuals affected by opioid addiction to rebuild their lives.