Floyd County to Utilize Opioid Funds for Treatment Program

Floyd County Supervisors have approved taking a new approach in the treatment of opioid abuse and addiction.

Up until now, the County has used funding received from the national opioid settlement to raise awareness of the problem through ads in the newspaper, on KCHA, and at the Charles Theatre in Charles City. And more money is likely coming to the County, according to Supervisor Gloria Carr.

During their regular Board meeting Monday (01.06), Carr lobbied that the next step to tackling the opioid crisis is directing funding for a joint operation between Floyd County Medical Center (FCMC) and a Mason City psychiatrist to help people with opioid dependency. 

Supervisors voted unanimously to approve an agreement establishing the clinical opioid treatment, which was proposed by an opioid planning committee led by County Public Health Administrator Gail Arjes.

The County has received just over $150,000 thus far from the opioid settlements from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies which manufactured and distributed opioid medications.