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| Photo by: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune |
In addition to the cuts, local nonprofits are also having problems accessing federal help for opioid reversal medication, such as Narcan.
In just a few years, Texas established one of the largest no-cost systems for distributing opioid reversal medications in the United States, thanks to an influx of federal and state funding supporting local community efforts.
The sudden loss of $68 million in federal substance abuse response funding this year due to the end of COVID-19 funding, plus the potential for more federal cuts in the future, is threatening this fragile ecosystem.
“I know in my region, which covers Lubbock and Amarillo, some organizations have closed down that were able to provide free naloxone as well, and we’re kind of trying to fill their shoes right now,” said Alberto Soto-Gonzales, training hub coordinator at the Central Plains Center in Plainview for Naloxone Texas, one of the state’s largest naloxone distributors.
Texas’ naloxone distribution system is composed of various entities, including social service organizations and local public health departments. If one part of the system begins to fail, the rest have to shoulder the demand, and any one of them can become overwhelmed.
The $68 million in COVID-19 money helped pay for medication-assisted treatment, recovery housing, drop-in drug treatment centers, recovery support groups, and overdose response efforts like vending machines with naloxone. Commonly known by its brand name Narcan, naloxone rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and restores normal breathing within minutes.
The state never had plans to replace that COVID money when it ran out and noted that it was spread across 37 different programs, according to Jennifer Ruffcorn, spokesperson for the state’s health agency.
On top of the expiring COVID-related money, some other federal money in the form of block grants has been delayed because of federal layoffs, and some key regional staff at federal agencies that help Texas land those grants have left or changed jobs.
As a result, local public health agencies will have to either reassign their staff or shift some of their substance use response and prevention responsibilities to nonprofits, as officials focus on other priorities, such as disease containment and vaccinations. --->READ MORE HERE
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| Credit: Corbis via Getty Images/Tim Clayton |
A former world-class sprinter from Elmont was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for leading a scheme to steal nearly $2 million in pandemic business relief and supplying banned drugs to athletes preparing for the Olympics.
Dewayne Barrett, 43, pleaded guilty in May in Manhattan federal court to one count of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit major international doping fraud and to introduce into interstate commerce adulated and misbranded drugs.
He also must serve 1 year of probation and pay $1.9 million in restitution, $96,500 in forfeiture.
Barrett is among at least 31 Long Islanders charged with defrauding pandemic-era programs that include the Paycheck Protection Program loans, COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the Employee Retention Credit and several other tax credits, a Newsday analysis found.
Together, the defendants are accused of illegally obtaining more than $93 million, according to federal court filings in Central Islip, New York City and White Plains.
In 2020 and 2021, Barrett submitted false applications for PPP loans for more than 70 people who he claimed were independent contractors who had been thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic. Each successful applicant received between $20,000 and $29,000 in loan funds and paid Barrett a kickback of $2,000, according to federal prosecutors. --->READ MORE HERE OR HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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