By Bob Burns
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The Fountain Hills Town Council has agreed to allocate its share of the 2021 National Opioid Settlement funds to the Fountain Hills Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the local community as well as the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

It is estimated that over 18 years, local governments of Maricopa County will receive an estimated $80 million as their share from the national settlement with pharmaceutical companies who distributed opioids.

Per an agreement, local government jurisdictions will receive 44/56% split of the total state settlement. The town’s share is 0.17% which is based on three factors: the number of opioids shipped to the region, the number of opioid deaths that occurred in the region and the number of people who suffer opioid use disorder in the region.

The town received its first settlement distribution in June totaling $41,419. Subsequent annual payments of accumulated settlement collections will be distributed in June of each year. The amount will likely vary.

Local government entities that receive settlement funds will be required to submit an annual report to the state of Arizona by the end of July each year. The report must outline how the funds were used based on specified strategies. Those include treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), support for people in treatment and recovery, support for people who have or are at risk of developing OUD, prevention of overdose deaths and other harms and prevention of opioid misuse.

Town Manager Rachael Goodwin told the council that staff supports the funding going to the Coalition based on its 14-year history of providing substance abuse prevention programs in the community. Councilwoman Hannah Toth agreed saying she believes this to be “best way to assure the funds will be used as directed.”

Coalition update

Coalition Executive Director Tammy Bell made a separate presentation to the council at the Oct. 3 meeting. She noted that the coalition’s stated mission since its inception has been to achieve substantial reductions in youth substance abuse in Fountain Hills and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation focused on marijuana, alcohol, vaping, opioids and other prescription drugs. She said they have been successful.

In her presentation, Bell noted the coalition has been successful in mobilizing the entire community with representation that includes parents, teachers, youth, law enforcement, health care providers, faith communities, business and civic leaders as well as local media.

Building fiscal resources and accountability is a goal of the coalition. Bell stated they are funded through grants and community supporters, they use strict monthly reporting and reimbursement system, there is a monthly financial review and bi-annual sector reviews of grant sources and spending and an annual CPA evaluation.

“Kids who continue to learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who are not taught about the dangers,” Bell said. “Youth who begin using addictive substances before age 15 are nearly seven times more likely to develop a substance problem, compared with those who delay first use until age 21 or older.”

The coalition seeks to change attitudes and behavior as it relates to perceptions of social norms, youth access to substances and youth substance use. It takes one year to change attitudes and two years to change behavior, according to Bell’s presentation.

Community partnerships and engagement are an important part of the coalition’s agenda. The group supports and participates in activities ranging from town-sponsored events like Back to School Bash, Teen Takeover, Fountain Hills Cares, Fountain Hills Day, Fountain Hills Volunteer Expo, Drug Take Back Days with MCSO, Red Ribbon Day with the school district and the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Educational Pow Wow.

“Since inception in 2009 the coalition continues to recognize local and state issues for teens and has expanded our focus according to our local data to include not only underage drinking, but also nicotine use (including vaping), marijuana use, opioid dangers and prescription drug abuse,” Bell said.

Based on 2022 Arizona Youth Survey results of students in 8th, 10th and 12th grades and living in the 85268 Fountain Hills ZIP Code compared to 2018 survey results, there was a 58.6% decrease in E-cigarette use, 40.7% decrease in prescription drug use, a 33.7% decrease in alcohol consumption and a 19.2 % decrease in marijuana use.