The Mercer County Opioid Settlement Advisory Council is seeking public input from Mercer County residents and those serving Mercer County residents to share ideas toward the use of opioid settlement funds that the County of Mercer is receiving from the State of New Jersey.
In May 2024, the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council was created via ordinance by Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and the Board of County Commissioners to provide input, advice, and recommendations to the County’s administration on the disbursement of the opioid settlement funds. The Council is overseen by the Office of Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services.
“The County of Mercer remains committed to addressing and fighting the opioid crisis,” says County Executive Dan Benson. “We intend to use opioid settlement funds on strategies to reduce the epidemic’s ongoing harms to our residents and communities, and we want to hear ideas from Mercer residents and those who serve them to determine how these opioid funds could best be used to benefit our residents.”
Opioids are commonly used for the treatment of pain. After intake, opioids can cause euphoria, which is a main reason why they are taken for non-medical purposes. Their non-medical use, prolonged use, misuse, and use without medical supervision can lead to opioid dependence, other health problems, and death. Opioids include heroin as well as prescription medicines such as morphine, codeine, fentanyl, methadone, and tramadol.
In March 2022, the State of New Jersey reached an agreement in a national lawsuit against four companies for their role in the opioid crisis. These lawsuits hold prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers accountable for their role in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic. The State will receive at least $1 billion over the course of 18 years beginning in 2022. The State will receive half of these funds, while the other half will be provided directly to participating local and municipal government agencies – municipalities with populations over 10,000 and all 21 New Jersey counties.
“Collaboration is essential for success in preventing opioid overdose deaths,” says Taraun Tice McKnight, Esq., Deputy County Administrator and Director of the Department of Human Services. “It is vital that we hear from our residents as well as anyone who serves them, including first responders, treatment providers, medical personnel, health officials, and community-based organizations, so we can better coordinate efforts to prevent opioid overdoses and deaths.”
The survey can be found on the County’s website at www.mercercounty.org/osfsurvey and will be available online indefinitely.
“I am proud to work alongside County Executive Benson’s administration in the fight against opioid misuse and deaths,” says County Commissioner Chair Kristin L. McLaughlin. “Drug overdoses dramatically increased over the last two decades, and we need to remain vigilant as we battle the issues opioid use has caused in our communities.”
“Not only are substance use and substance use disorders prominent public health issues, they are prominent human issues,” says County Commissioner Vice Chair Terrance Stokes. “The numbers we see on drug misuse and deaths are scary, but the real pain lies with those who have been affected by drug misuse or death of a loved one, and it’s our duty to do what we can to beat this crisis alongside our community members.”
