Polk County is set to receive $30 million dollars, over the next 18 years to fight what city leaders are calling an opioid crisis in the county.
The National Institute of Health said opioids are a class of drugs that include heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and many others.
“We seized enough fentanyl to kill 2.7 million people in one day,” said Sheriff Grady Judd.
In Polk County, Judd’s deputies seized more than 11 pounds of fentanyl on Oct. 21, 2022, but there has been several stings over the year that resulted in mass amounts of drug seizures. Judd said there was enough fentanyl to kill 2.7 million people.
“Clearly, there’s a real need for help right here in our communities,” said Polk County Commissioner George Lindsey. “Polk County had a 39% jump in overdose deaths in 2020. We have an obligation to help people claim their lives back from opioids. Enough is enough.”
Polk County received the first installment of $400,000 to put towards resources.
Polk County had a 39% spike in overdose deaths in 2020, according to county commissioners.