Tulsa County opens applications for $5 million in opioid settlement funds

Tulsa County is now accepting applications from nonprofits to receive a share of the $5 million it has collected from national opioid settlement funds. The money comes from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies and distributors of opioid-related medications.

Robert Harmon, who oversees the county’s abatement program, said the rollout took time so they could first assess the greatest needs. “We want to make sure we’re aiming first and then firing,” Harmon said. “None of it’s getting wasted.”

Amanda Hammack with CREOKS, a local mental health nonprofit, says the money comes at a critical time. “Very recently, there have been over 100,000 overdose deaths—preventable deaths—in very recent years,” she said.

By The Numbers: Tulsa County Opioid Abatement Committee

87,000

The CDC says that roughly 87,000 people died from drug overdoses from October 2023 to September 2024.

90%

Fentanyl was involved in 90% of opioid-related deaths in 2023, compared to 10-20% a year prior to 2020.

$5 Million

Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office distributed roughly $5 million of settlement funds to nearly 40 Oklahoma cities and counties to combat the opioid crisis.

$1 Million

The abatement program will work under a 15-year plan to distribute about $1 million each year until 2033, when it will average out to about $400 thousand until 2039.

15

So far, fifteen organizations have applied to receive funding. For those who haven’t applied yet, you have until the end of May to submit your application.

8

The county is focusing on eight priority areas:

1. Medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder
2. Contingency management
3. Recovery housing
4. Supported employment services
5. Naloxone distribution
6. School-based prevention
7. Family skills
8. Integration of healthcare

For community members looking to give feedback or contribute to the discussion, Tulsa County has opened up a public email, at opioidfunding@tulsacounty.org.

To find the Opioid Abatement Application, visit: www2.tulsacounty.org/opioid-abatement-application/)