The Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants Program (OSPG) was established to distribute settlement funds received by the City of Jacksonville following its participation in lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids for their roles in the opioid crisis. According to the Florida Department of Health and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department:
- From 2018 to 2021, the rate of opioid overdose deaths in Duval County increased 75%.
- 2021 was the worst year in Duval County's history for drug-related deaths, with nearly 600 people dying from a drug overdose that year.
- In 2022, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded to an average of 250 opioid-related overdose calls each month.
OSPG contracts with eligible agencies and organizations performing services in Duval County who have been in operation for a minimum of three years providing services related to the prevention, treatment, and/or recovery support for those with opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions. The selection process of OSPG awards is outlined in Ordinance 2023-350-E and evaluated by the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder (OSUD) Grants Committee.
FY 2023-2024 Opioid Settlement Proceeds Funded Categories
The OSUD Grants Committee assesses the needs of the community and recommends to the City Council the percentage of Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants funds appropriated to be allocated to each of the funded categories: prevention, treatment, or recovery support. For the fiscal year 2024, the allocation of funding to each Opioid Settlement Proceeds funding category shall be:
Prevention - 34%
Treatment - 33%
​Recovery Support - 33%
OSUD Grants Committee
The OSUD Grants Committee’s goal is to distribute opioid settlement funds throughout the City of Jacksonville in a way that is equitable, efficient, and effective in order to combat the opioid crisis. The committee does so through the following activities:
- Review and assess the annual needs of the City for programs and services related to the opioid epidemic
- Review, evaluate, and score each Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grant application
- Participate in on-site evaluations of recipient programs
- Award and allocate the annual Opioid Settlement Proceeds appropriation
The OSUD Grants Committee consists of seven voting members; the Mayor and Council President each appoint one member from each of the following categories: mental health professional, peer specialist, and healthcare professional. The seventh voting member is the Health Administrator of the Florida Department of Health, Duval County, who is a continuous, standing member. Additionally, the City Council President annually appoints a City Council Member to serve as a liaison to the OSUD Grants Committee.
Committee Members
| Member Name |
Category |
| Nancy Rice |
Mental Health Professional |
| Dr. Richmond Wynn |
Mental Health Professional |
| Heather Rios |
Peer Specialist |
| Sarah Smith |
Peer Specialist |
| Dr. John Tanner |
Healthcare Professional |
| Antonio Nichols |
Health Administrator of the Florida Department of Health, Duval County |
City Council Liaison (non-voting member)
Ronald Salem - City Council President rsalem@coj.net
Technical Assistance
If you have any questions regarding the Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants application process or contractual requirements, please contact Madelaine Assi Zarou, Opioid Abatement Manager, at mazarou@coj.net or opioidabatement@coj.net or via phone at (904) 255-3312.
Public Notices, Agendas, and Minutes
Public Records Notice: The City of Jacksonville is committed to making its website compliant with all state, local, and federal laws, as well as accessible to as many people as possible. The City is currently developing a procedure to make all documents posted ADA accessible. In the meantime, public records that are not currently accessible will not be posted to the City’s website but remain available pursuant to a public records request. To submit a public records request online visit MyJax or call (904) 630-CITY.
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