The Mobile City Council approved a $154,000 contract with The Helios Alliance for consulting services concerning opioid settlement funds.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall led the state in several efforts to hold drug manufacturers responsible for the opioid crisis. So far, the state has been awarded over $720 million.
Those funds are to be disbursed to counties and municipalities to implement long-term strategies to fight the opioid crisis. Those strategies must meet certain criteria, and any misuse or non-approved allocations could cost the state future payments from the settlements.
The Helios Alliance will review proposals and present information to the council to ensure the funds are used correctly. They used simulation models to help understand why the opioid crisis developed over time and then brought that information to the local level.
The Helios Alliance has done work in New Mexico, Nevada and Texas.
Mobile’s portion of the settlement is around $2 million. The funds will be spent on education and abatement efforts.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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