Lake County
Implementation Plans
FY 2024-2025 Plan
The 2024-2025 Lake County Opioid Settlement Implementation Plan outlines the strategic use of funds received from opioid litigation settlements to combat the opioid epidemic in Lake County, Florida. In 2021-2022, Florida announced settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers, with the state expected to receive over $3 billion over eighteen years. Lake County, as part of the Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide Response Agreement, will receive a portion of these funds, which are allocated through the City/County Funds and Regional Funds. The funds are designated for approved purposes and core strategies to mitigate opioid issues, with Lake County identifying priority areas such as establishing a Drug Treatment Court, direct services for treatment and recovery, and a Public Information Campaign.
The plan emphasizes collaboration with various community partners, including the Lake County Opioid Task Force, Be Free Lake, LSF Health Systems, Life Stream Behavioral Center, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and Advent Health. These partnerships aim to gather data, recommend activities, and implement plans to abate the opioid epidemic effectively. Lake County’s involvement in the Governor DeSantis’ Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network and the planning stages for the CORE program’s implementation highlight the county’s proactive approach to opioid mitigation. Funding recommendations adhere to the Opioid Agreement, focusing on adapting to community needs and available resources.
The plan is not binding but provides options and aspirations for opioid abatement within Lake County and its municipalities. It includes establishing a Drug Treatment Court, direct services for treatment and recovery, a Public Information Campaign, and a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) focusing on Prevention Core Strategies. These initiatives align with core abatement strategies and approved uses outlined in the Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide Response Agreement, aiming to expand training for first responders, increase distribution of naloxone, provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and support prevention programs, among others. The plan’s activities, scope, and funding are subject to change, emphasizing flexibility in addressing the opioid crisis. Contact information for Tony Deaton, Chief Probation Officer at the Office of County Probation, is provided for further inquiries.
The document concludes with the Florida Opioid Allocation and Statewide Response Agreement, detailing the agreement’s terms, definitions, distribution schemes, and objectives to use settlement proceeds for opioid abatement efforts statewide. This comprehensive approach involves various stakeholders and strategies to address the opioid epidemic’s multifaceted challenges in Lake County and beyond.