The Town of Miami Lakes received about $5,000 as its share in the massive settlements paid by some opioid manufacturers and distributors to state governments.
A portion of the money will be used in an awareness campaign to prevent misuse of the prescription medications, Communications Director Clarisell De Cardenas told the town council on July 9.
The town will also spend money on prevention and education strategies, according to its plan.
Councilman Bryan Morera asked De Cardenas to work with the town’s Mental Health Task Force on the project.
Among the objectives is an education program of workshops and partnerships with community organizations that will focus on children, teenagers and adults.
The organizations the town will work with are:
--Thriving Mind South Florida, which cares for people with mental illness and substance use disorders;
--Partnership to End Addiction that works to prevent misuse of illegal drugs, and
--Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, Inc., which teaches, trains and supports parents, schools and communities how to raise drug-free kids.
Miami Lakes will also begin a bilingual campaign to raise awareness about opioid abuse and consequences. The town will promote local pharmacies as drop off sites for unused or expired opioid medications in an effort to prevent misuse. They are CVS locations at 6690 Eagle Nest Lane and 15395 NW 82nd Ave.; Walgreens, at 5701 NW 183rd St. and the Pharmacy Care Center at 2081 W. 76th St., in Hialeah.
The town’s public awareness campaign will appear on social media, its website, in outreach materials distributed at municipal events, in digital advertising and in print media advertising.