City of Punta Gorda
Implementation Plans
FY 2024-2025 Plan
The City of Punta Gorda has outlined a comprehensive plan for utilizing the FY 2025 Opioid Settlement funds to combat opioid misuse and enhance public safety through various initiatives. The plan includes allocating funds towards educational programs, particularly the annual Public Safety Youth Academy, which educates 10 to 14-year-olds on drug recognition and prevention, with an additional focus on recognizing drug overdoses and administering naloxone. This initiative aligns with the core strategy of providing education to discourage or prevent misuse among youth, with an estimated cost of $5,000.
Furthermore, the plan proposes the acquisition of a hands-free CPR device for the Fire Department to improve the efficiency of first responders during opioid overdose incidents, which often result in cardiac arrest due to decreased respiratory drive. This equipment, costing approximately $24,701, would enable first responders to perform multiple life-saving techniques simultaneously. Additionally, the Police Department aims to enhance its drug recovery initiative by purchasing brochures and signage to encourage drug abusers to seek treatment voluntarily, with an estimated expenditure of $1,600.
The strategy also includes funding for the Bi-Annual Drug Take Back initiative and daily medicine cabinet prescription collections/destruction, in partnership with Drug Free Punta Gorda and the DEA. This effort, aimed at safely disposing of old prescriptions, requires additional resources for monitoring and destruction, with a budget of approximately $2,800. Lastly, the plan allocates funds for the purchase of a TruNarc Handheld Narcotics Analyzer, a device that allows for the quick and safe identification of over 530 controlled substances, including fentanyl, enhancing officer safety and overdose response at a cost of about $20,000.
This summarization captures the essence of the City of Punta Gorda’s plan by highlighting the key initiatives and their alignment with the core strategies of the Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide Response Agreement. It provides a clear overview of the proposed expenditures and their intended impact on opioid misuse prevention and response, demonstrating a thoughtful and multifaceted approach to addressing this critical public health issue.