Jackson County Awarded $700,000 to Combat Opioid Crisis
By: Shelia Mader
Jackson County is receiving a $700,000 grant from the state of Florida as part of the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (C.O.R.E.) Project—funding aimed squarely at combating the opioid epidemic that continues to affect communities across the region. The grant is being split between two key initiatives: $500,000 will go to PanCare Health to expand opioid treatment and recovery services, while the remaining $200,000 is intended to help Jackson County Fire Rescue address increasing emergency call volumes linked to addiction.
PanCare’s portion of the grant, administered through the Northwest Florida Health Network, will bolster its capacity to serve those struggling with opioid addiction. The organization will provide treatment for overdoses and connect individuals with recovery services, critical support for a county that saw 247 suspected overdoses between fiscal year 2023 and 2024.
“This funding allows us to ensure that those who experience an overdose will have access to the care they need,” said Lexi Harris, Behavioral Health Supervisor for the Northwest Florida Health Network. “But there are strict parameters around how this money can be used, it must go directly to treatment and EMS response.”
To address the EMS component, Fire Chief Charlie Brunner has proposed using the remaining $200,000 to create two full-time positions within Jackson County Fire Rescue. These positions, likely EMS or paramedic roles, would help ease the department’s chronic staffing shortages and allow full deployment of existing equipment, including a recently acquired truck.
“Jackson County Fire Rescue has been understaffed in my estimation for a number of years,” said County Commissioner Paul Donofro, who represents District 3. “Our population is aging, which brings more medical calls. This funding gives us a jump-start to begin filling in those gaps.”
While Donofro supports hiring additional fire rescue personnel, he expressed concern about the sustainability of the positions beyond the initial grant period, since the funds are non-recurring. Discussions are underway to explore options for integrating the positions into the county’s annual budget moving forward.
“This is a great opportunity to respond more effectively to addiction-related emergencies,” Donofro said. “But we have to be responsible and plan for the future. We can’t just hire now and hope the funding appears later.”
The Jackson County Commission will vote on the proposed use of the $200,000 at their next meeting on Tuesday, June 10. If the proposal is denied, Donofro says the county will look at including the new positions in next year’s budget.
The grant is part of a broader effort to address the opioid crisis across Northwest Florida, with neighboring counties like Bay, Gulf, and Washington also ramping up services. For Jackson County, the funding represents not just a financial boost, but a critical opportunity to meet an urgent and growing need.