Spartanburg Co. Requests $2M to Help Opioid-Addicted Inmates
In an ambitious move to tackle the opioid crisis, Spartanburg County has requested approximately $2M to assist in the treatment of inmates suffering from opioid addiction at its county detention center. This move comes as part of a nationwide effort to combat the increasing opioid severe epidemic through the utilization of funds from the pharmaceutical industry.
The Struggle is Real but So is the Hope
With a shocking 440% increase in opioid-related deaths from 2015 to 2022, Spartanburg County witnessed a disquieting rise in the number of lives claimed by opioid addiction. The numbers ascend to 154 such fatalities in 2022, while the county detention center currently houses around 650 inmates detected with an opioid use disorder.
The proposed plan, aimed at making the most significant impact in this regard, purports to treat the opioid-addicted inmates and thereby transform the future trajectory of drug abuse in the county. The hope is optimistic that the county’s plea would prompt a transition from an opioid-loaded past to a more balanced future.
The Power of the Settlement
Spartanburg County’s request traces back to a multi-million dollar state lawsuit against the nation’s largest drug shipment companies in 2019. The suit led to the allocation of more than $300M to the state in 2022, as part of a massive $26 B national settlement. The funds were meant to be distributed amongst state agencies, cities, and counties to fight the heavy toll of opioid addiction. Spartansburg County is one of the latest to stake its claim on this settlement pie.
A Look Inside the Plan
According to local addiction expert, Dr. Melissa Fritsche, the county’s proposal encapsulates the hiring of a nurse practitioner for the detention center and seeks to finance drugs that counteract the effects of opioids. Furthermore, it aims to emphasize public education and other related objectives that could potentially change the landscape of drug abuse in the county. A hope mirrored in the sentiment expressed by councilman Monier Abusaft, who acknowledged the importance of the program in helping the Spartanburg community break free from the vicious cycle of addiction and crime.
With the county expected to receive recurring payments over the next 12 to 15 years, these funds have the potential to sustain the program for over a decade. However, the ultimate goal remains to reduce, if not eliminate the need for such a program in future, reflected in Dr. Fritsche’s hope to “not be treating addiction” five years from now.
