Opioid Abatement Board Awards $2.5 Million in Grants to Aid Oklahoma Communities Including Ponca City

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board awarded $2.5 million in grant awards to 14 counties, two cities and two school districts yesterday to help curb the state’s opioid crisis.

Grants will fund treatment and recovery programs, opioid abuse education and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics across the state.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who chairs the board, said the grants are designed to help communities address Oklahoma’s opioid crisis.

“I’m pleased we are able to provide resources for communities across our state to fight the crippling effects of fentanyl and other deadly opioids,” he said. “These funds will help remove opioids from our streets and provide help for Oklahomans struggling with addiction.”

Comanche and Osage counties received the largest grant awards at $300,000 each. Comanche County plans to fund an opioid task force, provide housing for individuals recovering from opioid addiction and provide transportation for drug court participants. Osage County will partner with the Osage Nation Health System to offer treatment, prevention and counseling support services to residents.

Grants were awarded to applicants who submitted corrected applications following the first round of grant awards in June when $11 million was awarded to 71 Oklahoma political subdivisions. Any entity that initially submitted an incomplete application or requested funds for an unapproved purpose was invited to resubmit their grant applications.

The following applications were approved yesterday for grant awards:

Counties:

Beckham County

Caddo County

Comanche County

Custer County

Grady County

Greer County

Harmon County

Haskell County

Jefferson County

Kiowa County

Latimer County

Osage County

Stephens County

Tillman County

Cities:

Ponca City

Warr Acres

School Districts:

Lawton Public Schools

Owasso Public Schools