Board of Supervisors approves $5M in opioid settlement funds for substance use disorder projects

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved $5 million in funding to three local organizations that submitted proposals to address the opioid crisis. They are:

• Buckelew Recovery Residences for $3,873,235
• West County Health Centers for $637,365
• Drug Abuse Alternatives Center for $489,400

The funding stems from national settlement agreements with opioid prescription manufacturers to provide funds for the abatement of the opioid epidemic in California. To date, the County has received over $14 million with more anticipated over the next decade. All of the funding must be used on activities related to ending, reducing or lessening the effects of the opioid crisis in Sonoma County.

“This is an important opportunity to make a significant impact on opioid addiction in our county,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Lynda Hopkins. “With this thoughtful rollout of the initial funding coming our way, the Board is hopeful that progress in this area will accelerate. Too many lives have been ruined due to the extremely harmful nature of these substances.”

The opioid problem in Sonoma County

The growing presence of fentanyl in opioids and other drugs has led to an overall increase in unintentional drug overdose deaths in Sonoma County, with Black, Latinx and multiracial residents having experienced the greater increases. An average of 12 people die each month in the county from drug overdoses, which is the third highest rate among Bay Area counties, and opioid overdose death rates for Sonoma County men are three times higher than the rates for women.

While death rates for both Sonoma County men and women fell during years 2022–2024, to 22.4 per 100,000, they still remain higher than pre-pandemic rates (and are very similar to the state average of 22 per 100,000). Geographically, the Russian River area continues to experience the highest opioid overdose death rates in the region, and people experiencing homelessness make up 10% of the drug overdose deaths while being only about 1% of the county population. 

“The opioid crisis is highly complex, and thus requires a multi-faceted approach to address it,” said Department of Health Services director Nolan Sullivan. “Putting these funds to use on the many different elements of the problem is a real opportunity to put a dent in this devastating disease.

More on the funded projects

Along with requesting proposals that serve populations disproportionally impacted by opioid use and regional areas lacking current substance use disorder treatment and recovery residences, the Board prioritized these three areas for projects: recovery residences that add capacity for at least 60 persons to fill in the identified demographic and regional gaps, increased capacity for syringe exchange programs, and development of media and information campaigns to reach target audiences. Each of the following selected proposals fits into one or more of those categories:

Buckelew — Sonoma County Housing for Hope

This proposal adds 68 beds for housing in four different residences with emphasis on serving the Russian River and West County. The project focuses on addressing gaps in the system of care, most notably for BIPOC, men, men with children, and individuals with severe SUD impairment. Buckelew will oversee the operation of the housing sites and has extensive experience in housing programs and substance use disorder treatment.

“This funding is a chance to respond to an urgent crisis by providing resources that create real, lasting change,” said Chris Kughn, CEO of Buckelew Programs. “It’s about showing up for our community when they need us most.” 

West County Health Centers — Lower Russian River Opioid Prevention and Harm Reduction Initiative

This proposal provides a comprehensive range of harm reduction and prevention services, including Narcan distribution, Fentanyl test strips, a 1:1 mentoring program, and a social media campaign including print, social media and digital storytelling. Exclusive service is provided to West County residents, a targeted area of focus due to high overdose rates.

“This grant funding provides much-needed support for our rural community to provide education, training and harm reduction supplies to local residents who have or are at risk for a substance use disorder and to partner with local businesses and community-based organizations in this effort,” said Jason Cunningham, CEO of West County Health Centers.

Drug Abuse Alternatives Center — Wellness on Wheels Program Expansion

This proposal expands services and access in the following areas: Naloxone distribution, MAT distribution, education in schools for prevention, perinatal care coordination, syringe exchange program, access to SUD treatment, testing for infectious diseases and access to disease care. The project will emphasize serving key demographic areas of need, including high school youth, Russian River Area, Black/African American, Multi-Racial, Latinx, emergency rooms and men with children.

Over the course of the current fiscal year, the Department of Health Services intends to return to the Board with proposals for the remaining $9.1 million in opioid settlement funding.

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Media Contact:
Sheri Cardo, DHS Communications Specialist
sheri.cardo@sonomacounty.gov
(707) 565-8619