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Liam LaFountain, Biddeford City Councilor• |
This Tuesday, Biddeford’s City Council will consider adopting a strategic plan to guide the use of funds from a national opioid settlement agreement. These funds, secured from pharmaceutical companies held accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic, present a significant opportunity for our city to expand resources and provide critical support to those affected by opioid use disorder.
For many in Biddeford, the opioid crisis is not an abstract issue—it’s deeply personal. It may be a neighbor, a friend, or a loved one whose life has been tragically altered by addiction. The numbers are stark. In 2023 alone, Maine saw over 10,000 overdoses, with more than 700 resulting in deaths. Behind these numbers is a story—a life that could be saved with the proper support at the right time. The plan before the City Council is designed to ensure that Biddeford has the resources ready for those fleeting moments of readiness when someone decides to take the next step toward recovery.
This plan builds on the Opioid Use Settlement Fund Tracking and Reporting Ordinance approved by the City Council in September 2024. That ordinance established a transparent and accountable framework for managing settlement funds, ensuring they are used to expand recovery resources. The strategic plan takes the next step, laying out how the city will allocate these funds to have the greatest impact.
Biddeford is expected to receive $1,818,549 from the settlements by 2038, with an annual average allocation of $106,956. These payments are front-loaded, allowing the city to make immediate investments where they are most needed. The settlement terms are clear: these funds must supplement existing resources, not replace them. They are intended to expand efforts like recovery services, harm reduction, and prevention, directly addressing the harm caused by the pharmaceutical companies that prioritized profits over the well-being of the people they were meant to help. You can learn more about these settlement agreements and their stipulations for municipalities on the Maine Attorney General’s website.
The proposed Strategic Plan for the Opioid Settlement Funds allocates $100,000 annually. Of this amount, $90,000 will fund treatment scholarships, rental assistance for recovery residences, and other direct services. An additional $10,000 will address incidental costs that prevent individuals from accessing these resources. The plan aims to assist at least 50 people each year, providing the financial and logistical support needed to help them rebuild their lives.
Providing financial support at pivotal moments can be transformative. Recovery often depend on brief but critical opportunities when someone is ready to take the next step, and having resources in place at that time can make all the difference. This plan ensures the city is prepared to respond, building on nearly eight years of groundwork laid by the Biddeford Police Department’s 'People Recover' program, which has connected individuals with essential care and support through outreach, connection, and compassion.
This proposed plan reflects the hard work and advocacy of many individuals. Ryan Paige of the AccessDirect Recovery Network and Jacob Hammer, Biddeford’s General Assistance Supervisor, were instrumental in developing the ordinance and strategic plan that ensures settlement funds are used transparently and effectively. Their efforts, alongside those of the recovery community and Biddeford’s Policy Committee, ensured the ordinance and strategic plan reflected practical needs and lived experiences. This collaboration has created a foundation of trust and accountability, which are key to making the most of these finite resources.
The plan incorporates safeguards to ensure accountability and transparency. These include annual reporting requirements detailing fund expenditures and measuring outcomes, such as the number of individuals served and trends in substance use-related public safety calls. These reports will not only foster public trust but also allow Biddeford to adjust its approach as needed to maximize effectiveness and impact.
While the opioid crisis is a statewide and national challenge, the settlement funds enable Biddeford with a way to make a local impact. The proposed plan demonstrates the commitment to addressing this issue thoughtfully and compassionately, ensuring that settlement funds directly support recovery efforts.
On Tuesday, the Biddeford City Council will decide whether to proceed with this plan. If approved, Biddeford will gain a clear and actionable roadmap to transform settlement funds into meaningful investments that improve lives. This is about more than dollars and cents—it is about fulfilling our responsibility to support recovery, foster healing, and contribute to a more resilient and recovery-friendly Biddeford.
Liam LaFountain is serving his second term on the Biddeford City Council and works as a healthcare analyst at the non-profit Healthcare Purchaser Alliance. He welcomes
questions, comments, and ideas and can be contacted directly at
liam.lafountain@biddefordmaine.org.
The views and opinions herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and opinions of Saco Bay News, its employees, publisher, or advertisers.
