By Commissioner Casey Hopes and the Carbon & Emery Opioid & Substance Use Coalition
It is without a doubt that we have some of the most caring and compassionate people in the world that live right here in Carbon and Emery counties. It is evident and has been on full display over the years as the opioid overdose epidemic began to surge.
There are many individuals, government agencies, religious institutions and groups of people who came together to try and assist those individuals, our friends, neighbors and family members, who have experienced opioid use disorder (OUD). These armies of people came together and started collaborating on best practices, sharing resources and educating about substance use disorder.
Around the same time that our rural community began to pull its resources, national attention began to swell as communities across the country struggled with the affects of the opioid overdose epidemic. There were few that suffered the affects more than our own little communities here in Eastern Utah.
States, cities and counties from across the country began filing lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. As a result of the litigation, in February 2022, two large settlements against opioid manufacturers and distributors in the nationwide litigation were finalized. This settlement was reached in an effort to compensate those harmed by the effects on the ongoing opioid overdose epidemic.
As part of this settlement, Utah will receive $267 million over 18 years. Funds will be distributed to participating counties in Utah over that time as funds become available. Initial distributions to Carbon and Emery counties were made in February of 2023.
This funding will help bring much needed resources to our communities and help get people the help they need. Broadly, the funds can be used for supporting prevention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, SUD recovery services and harm reduction services. Funds must be used to remediate harm to communities by the opioid overdose epidemic.
In a recent commission meeting for Carbon County, the first two distributions from the settlement were discussed and disposition of funds was addressed and voted on. The county held back some funds for later determination and transmitted 40% of remaining funds to the Southeast Utah Health Department and 60% to Four Corners Community Behavioral Health to help ameliorate the negative impacts of opioids locally. Funds are also being allocated in Emery County and still in the process of being finalized.
Although there have been some settlements that have already been awarded, there continues to be other negotiations and litigation with additional manufacturers and distributors in the hopes of further funding to ameliorate the harms caused by opioids.
For additional information or to stay informed on the progress of these important funds that are sure to provide resources and open a new chapter of hope for our rural area, please watch the local commission websites. Keep abreast of the current situation by attending commission meetings or contacting your local commissioners. Find yours in Carbon County at carbonutah.com/department/commission/ or Emery County at emerycounty.com/commission/index.htm