The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved more than $640,000 in opioid settlement funds for five Atlanta organizations that provide treatment and recovery services for residents affected by opioid use disorder.
The fund allocations were approved during the board’s Dec. 17 meeting and draws from Georgia’s share of a nationwide settlement with pharmaceutical companies over the overprescribing of opioids. Fulton County received its first settlement disbursement back in late 2024.
Funding recommendations were developed by the county’s Opioid Abatement Regional Advisory Council, which reviews proposals from community organizations and prioritizes initiatives that are focused on reducing overdoses and expanding access to care.
“These awards represent our commitment to using settlement dollars where they will make the greatest difference in the lives of Fulton County residents struggling with addiction and in the health of our communities,” said LaTrina R. Foster, director of the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities.
Awarded $150,000 apiece from the settlement are Ascensa Health Inc. (which will use the funds to bolster outpatient detoxification and medication-assisted treatment through its Ambulatory Withdrawal Management program) and the Empowerment Resource Center (to support the numerous services it provides for residents at high risk of opioid misuse).
Mary Hall Freedom Village will receive $142,992 to help women in recovery through workforce training, job readiness workshops and career development support.
$101,010 will be distributed to Aniz Inc. to develop its ARISE Fulton program, which provides peer-led counseling, street outreach and opioid education through social media campaigns.
Finally, $100,000 will go towards the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition to expand the organization’s “Medication-Assisted Treatment” (MAT) and harm reduction counseling, with the aim of reducing overdoses and supporting Atlantans who use substances.
“Each one of these programs offers a pathway to recovery and hope,” said Foster. “We’re grateful to our partners and proud to invest in work that strengthens families and communities across Fulton County.”