https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

News


Wikimedia Commons/Almonroth

News

Treasury clarifies that cities and counties can use American Rescue Plan money to combat opioid crisis

Treasury clarifies that cities and counties can use American Rescue Plan money to combat opioid crisis

  • Written by Andy Castillo
  • 21st July 2021

Last year, drug overdose deaths in the United States spiked nearly 30 percent to about 90,000, with close to 70,000 involving opioids, according to provisional data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

“This is the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, and the largest increase since at least 1999,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the National Institutes of Health, in a statement released to news agencies.

Vulnerable populations such as those facing down addiction have been particularly affected by COVID-19. Because the coronavirus spreads so easily and quickly, many addiction service agencies reduced services or shut down altogether at some point in the last year. The recent report on overdose deaths provides a sobering statistic that speaks to the sweeping impact the ongoing pandemic has had on all aspects of public health. 

In combination with deaths related to COVID-19—609,000 so far—America’s life expectancy declined by 1.5 years to 77.3 in 2020, representing the largest one-year drop since World War II, based on data published by the CDC. 

Given the toll, it will take some time and effort for cities and counties to recover from the pandemic, both economically and otherwise. The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Recovery Fund), established under the American Rescue Plan Act, was put forward this year by the Biden Administration as a way to help local communities in the uphill climb they will face in coming months and years. 

Among many other actions, the act set aside $350 billion for eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments to respond to the public health emergency and create jobs. Flexibility is a cornerstone of the initiative, and regions are allowed to spend the money as they choose on a variety of projects like water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. As written, the initiative is intended to go toward COVID-19 mitigation efforts, to offset negative economic impacts, replace lost revenue, pay essential employees and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

In written comments submitted July 16 to the U.S. Treasury Department about the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund by the National Association of Counties, the advocacy organization, which represents more than 3,000 American counties, asked that regions be allowed to expend their allotments to combat the opioid crisis. 

“Since the U.S. Treasury IFR was published, NACo surveyed our membership to identify outstanding questions on eligible uses, desired spending and implementation of the Recovery Fund. Over the last two months, we have received over 1,000 questions, comments, recommendations and case studies from hundreds of counties across the country,” the memo says.

Leading a dozen or so specific requests for clarifications and expansions for the rule—including allowing long-term equity endowments addressing racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, expansion of eligible capital investment and other projects, among other suggestions—NACo asked the Treasury to allow cities and counties the flexibility to expend their allowed Recovery Funds on addressing the opioid crisis.

Notably, federal organizations like The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), have also received American Rescue Plan Act’s funding allotments and have in turn distributed grants to various regions for mental health and addiction services.

While the treasury department initially outlined that funds could be used by local governments on “COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, and certain public safety staff,” it didn’t clearly state that the money could be used to combat addiction.

But as last year’s statistical spike in overdose deaths have shown, the affects of the COVID-19 pandemic are sweeping, NACo argued. And in addressing both crisis, counties play a “significant role in providing public health services,” serving “as the front line of the social safety net.”

The spike in overdose deaths happened in the pandemic’s shadow.

“Last year’s unprecedented escalation of the opioid crisis is almost certainly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, given the impact of social isolation brought on by safety measures implemented to mitigate the public health emergency,” the comments read. “This crisis not only burdens the families and individuals of those suffering from an addiction disorder, but it also overwhelms the county-owned and operated treatment facilities that provided necessary care for these families.”

The statement asked the treasury department to “consider making addiction crisis services, including through country jails and diversion centers, an eligible use of Fiscal Recovery Funds in the Final Rule.”

In a memo updated Monday, the Treasury clarified that cities and counties can use allotments to support “Mental health services and substance use disorder services, including for individuals experiencing trauma exacerbated by the pandemic.” Those uses include “Community-based mental health and substance use disorder programs that deliver evidence-based psychotherapy, crisis support services, medications for opioid use disorder, and/or recovery support; school-based social-emotional support and other mental health services” and “referrals to trauma recovery services for crime victims.”

Notably, the Treasury’s memo provides answers and clarification for many different questions raised by both NACo and other organizations. Funding can be requested via the Treasury department’s website.

Tags: homepage-featured-1 homepage-featured-4 Administration News Public Safety Administration News Public Safety News

Most Recent


  • baseball
    Minor league baseball is helping cities hit a revitalization home run
    It’s that time of year again—the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd when the home team hits a home run, not to mention the peanuts, Cracker Jacks and hot dogs! Nothing compares to the fun of gameday at the stadium, enjoying the national pastime of baseball. Some mid-sized cities have taken the […]
  • MSPs
    The MSP downstream cyberthreat paradox: Understanding the city and county connection
    Recently the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) along with the FBI, NSA, and international cyber authorities issued a cybersecurity advisory aimed at protecting managed service providers (MSPs) and their customers. This high-level advisory has been gestating for some time ever since the SolarWinds and Kaseya supply chain cyber-attacks. A software supply chain attack occurs […]
  • Philanthropic group to launch assistance portal for local admins navigating federal bureaucracy
    A joint venture announced Tuesday by a group of philanthropic organizations—in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities (NLC) and Results for America—seeks to help small and mid-sized communities secure their piece of the $550 billion in funding available for local governments navigating federal bureaucracy. The digital portal will launch […]
  • Report: Nearly 95 percent of America's mayors face harassment, threats and violence
    In today’s divided socioeconomic landscape—one that’s rife with political angst—harassment of mayors has become commonplace, especially against minority leaders. Women mayors and mayors of color face more frequent and acute incidents of harassment and violence, according to new research from the advocacy organizations Equity Agenda and the Mayors Innovation Project. Nearly half of all women mayors […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • As the pandemic continues to loom, municipal leaders can glean lessons from last year's budget season
  • Online interface gives emergency dispatchers up-to-date information in one place
  • Bay Area launches five pilot programs targeting region's housing challenges
  • What blockchain technology means for local city administrators

White papers


The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media

16th May 2022

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet

16th May 2022

Arizona Arts Center Meets Rapid Deadline with Hundreds of Thousands in Savings

26th April 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Minor league baseball is helping cities hit a revitalization home run dlvr.it/SQc5N4

18th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council can help governments get up to speed on sustainable buys dlvr.it/SQbwqL

18th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

The MSP downstream cyberthreat paradox: Understanding the city and county connection dlvr.it/SQYVjs

17th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Philanthropic group to launch assistance portal for local admins navigating federal bureaucracy dlvr.it/SQY16G

17th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Nearly 95 percent of America’s mayors face harassment, threats and violence dlvr.it/SQTn2z

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media dlvr.it/SQTdCK

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet dlvr.it/SQSqXG

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Almost half of public sector retirees don’t touch their retirement plans for a decade dlvr.it/SQKMjp

13th May 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X