Alpena County board approves opioid funding

Sunrise Centre, Catholic Human Services, and Freedom Recovery are recipients

ALPENA -- The Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved distributing opioid remediation funding to three organizations in Alpena County on Tuesday: Sunrise Centre, Catholic Human Services, and Freedom Recovery.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer said that opioid remediation funds come from a national lawsuit involving companies that manufactured, distributed, and retailed prescription opioids.

The funds distributed to municipalities must use those funds for opioid remediation in one way or another.

"We get a certain amount from the settlement every year," he said. "The money has to absolutely be used for opioid remediation."

Michigan is set to receive nearly $1.8 billion in pharmaceutical companies settlements by 2040. According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General website,

50% of the settlement amount will be distributed directly to county, city, and township governments. The remaining 50% will be distributed to the state government’s specially designated fund, The Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund.

Osmer explained that the Alpena County Opioid Remediation Steering Committee is made up of committee members "who deal with individuals who misused or abused opioids” and "medical professionals."

He said that the committee puts out a request for proposal (RFP) once a year for interested organizations to apply. The Alpena County Board of Commissioners approved the committee’s recommendations at Tuesday's Finance, Ways, and Means committee meeting.

Sunrise Center will receive $95,000, Catholic Human Services will receive $48,161.20, and Freedom Recovery will receive $30,000.

The Michigan Department of Attorney General opioid remediation spending documents report the following organizations have received these respective amounts since 2023, in Alpena County:

- Alpena County Jail Nurse: $228,100

- Sunrise Center: $70,000

- Alano Club: $83,882

- Freedom Recovery Center: $57,000

- Reborn Rescue: $15,000

In total, Alpena County has received $752,775.78 in remediation funds and has spent $453,982, with a remaining balance of $298,793.78, according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General. Comparatively, Alcona County has received $198,044.60, spent $64,208.39, and has a remaining balance of $133,836.21. Likewise, Montmorency County has received $208,897.51, spent $63,777.72, and has a remaining balance of $145,119.79.

Alpena County has received payments from the following companies involved in the lawsuit, with the respective totals:

- Distributor: $241,523.02

- Janssen: $170,455.66

- Walmart: $138,404.59

- CVS: $51,129.59

- Allergan: $46,050.28

- Walgreens: $36,652.26

- Teva: $36,206.76

- McKinsey: $21,997.70

- Kroger: $10,355.92

Osmer added that the amounts that Alpena County receives each year varies depending on how much each company pays into the settlement and whether or not more companies are added to the lawsuit.

"It changes every year," he said. "The entities can pay more if they are trying to pay it off earlier."

He said that the companies are required to pay a minimum but may choose to pay more.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.