CLEARFIELD- The opioid settlement money was the main topic of discussion at the Clearfield County Prison Board meeting Tuesday with several ideas proposed beyond using the funding to treat inmates for their addictions.
The board as well as the commissioners alone have been looking at options for the money, which needs to be used by the end of May 2026.
The board has already decided to run a trial program of switching treatment for opioid addiction from an oral medication, which requires daily dosing and transportation off site, to an injection, which would be monthly and could be done at the jail.
During Tuesday’s meeting the board heard from Tom Weber representing Prime Care who provides the treatments and he said that other counties use injectable treatments with great success, including Bucks County.
The cost is higher than using oral medication, but Weber said that they can get the medication at a discount, which they would pass on to the county.
There would also be a savings in there being less work for Prime Care and also savings for the jail having to provide staff and transportation.
The board also heard from Christopher Grunthauer, executive director of Clearfield-Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission, who was asked to present some options for other uses of the funding.
Grunthauer had a list of ideas he presented to the board, with the understanding that not everything would fall under the pervue of the prison board and would also depend on how much money would be available after the implementation of the new treatment program.
Helping inmates to continue with recovery topped the list, including collaborating with the jail and probation to ensure continuity of care by embedding a case management specialist at the jail to help with treatment during incarceration and transferring out of the jail.
There is also the opportunity to address other issues that contribute to the reasons why people abuse opioids and other drugs to begin with.
Grunthauer also said that prevention measures are underfunded and this could be an opportunity to work with school districts to reach students before they become addicted, to work with Children and Youth Services to help families in distress, and to increase media outreach to inform the public of what services CJD&A offers.
Another idea is to work with hospitals and outpatient clinics to create Narcan vending machines which would allow people to anonymously acquire supplies in order to be prepared to help family and friends.
The board members were pleased with the suggestions and Commissioner John Sobel said that a multi-pronged approach is something they need to look at in order to address the crisis.
“I think we have a good place to go from here,” Commissioner Tim Winters commented.
The commissioners and District Attorney Ryan Sayers will get together and look a the proposed costs and savings of the treatment program, which the board intends to implement in January, and then will begin making decisions on how to use the remainder of the money.
