Opioid Settlement Funds Could be Used for Behavioral Health Unit

At a recent meeting, Chief Cecelia Ashe provided Milford City Council with details on the opioid crisis in the city as well as details on an opioid settlement through the state. As part of a lawsuit settlement, the State of Delaware will receive around $200 million that is to be used to address the opioid crisis. Because Milford joined the lawsuit, the city will receive a portion of those funds over the next ten years.

“We felt it was important to come before council for discussion, so we know we are going in the direction council wants us to go,” Ashe said. “I know some members of council, especially Councilman James, are well-versed in this opioid settlement as he was one of the commissioners in prior years of service.”

Ashe explained that in addition to the lawsuit settlement, Milford applied for federal grants over the past few years, allowing them to expand their Behavioral Health Unit, growing the number of part-time clinicians that ride in a co-responder model. The total of those grants was around $394,000, but those funds will soon be expended.

“Once those funds are gone, we will have to reduce the hours of the part-time clinicians,” Ashe said. “With this settlement, Milford will receive about $197,000 this year. We have to keep in mind that overt the course of 10 years, those amounts may vary year to year, and our allocation could be based on, say, a reduction of overdoses, so the commission decides they will afford more money to cities that may need it more. I don’t agree with that stance, mostly because showing success with successful strategies should not result in what is basically punishment with less funding.”

Ashe felt that the strategies being used in Milford were working, especially with the addition of the Behavioral Health Unit. Ashe felt it was important to use some of the grant funding to research how successful the unit was in Milford and how adding clinicians on the road could help reduce crime as well as the impact of the opioid crisis. Ashe provided statistics showing that Milford had no overdoses at this point in 2026 and had used Narcan four times, compared to 2025 when there were no overdoses, but Narcan had been used 10 times during the same period.

“My point in providing these statistics to you is to request that we apply for the assistance from the commission for a full-time Behavioral Health Clinician,” Ashe said. “I have confirmed with the director that both salary and benefits will be covered with the $197,000. It does not use the full $197,000, but around $147,000 and the remaining amount we would use for part-time hours since the federal grant will end around September.”

Ashe felt council should look at rolling funds each year into the police department to cover the cost of the Behavioral Health Unit that would be available once the opioid settlement funds ended. This would provide a sustainable plan and help grow the unit which had shown tremendous success.

“When we started the unit in 2020, the idea was then to grow this unit into a full-time unit, but to be staffed night and day, whether full- or part-time, but to have the funding available to continue this unit,” Councilman Jason James, who led the push for the Behavioral Health Unit, said. “We see the benefit. We see the diversions. We see the help for those who are needing assistance for drug problems getting pointed in the right direction. Those who have mental health issues also, so great work is being done. I strongly, strongly recommend that council be on board with the funding that is available to be used for the Behavioral Health Unit, because we are a growing population.”

James continued, reminding council that Milford was the largest municipality in Sussex County which meant the need would become greater.

“To the chief’s point, we should look in our long-term fiscal planning to have this valuable resource in our community funded in sure dollars and not just grant dollars,” James said. “We need to move in that direction. While grant dollars are available, they should be directed to this in as it is a great benefit to the citizens, but we need to find steady dollars to keep this operational.”

Councilwoman Nadia Zychal agreed.

“Just to agree with Councilman James’ point, this should be calculated forward in future operating budgets as part of the police funding,” Zychal said.

City manager Chris Coleman explained that he and Ashe had been discussing the unit.

“I think the presentation the chief just gave is a perfect example of why the current funding needs to be the floor, not the ceiling,” Coleman said. “Right now, my understanding is if we get this funding and the community does well, then the funding based on the formula may go down. I had an opportunity to hear the director and speak with him myself and some of his staff members. One of the things I mentioned is this really needs to be the floor. So, that is one of the challenges we will be facing. But I think this is a great example of how the funds should be sued and can be used.”

James pointed out that municipalities who apply for the funding for a Behavioral Health Unit, he was told it was a “no brainer.” Other municipalities have already applied for it for such units, and the commission felt it was the best use of the funds.

“I think this is a prevention measure,” Councilman Danny Perez said. “I’m all for this because it would help prevent crime and other issues, social issues that we have in the community moving forward, so I am definitely on board with this.”

The matter was only for council discussion but will likely be part of budget hearings planned for May 12 through 14. The entire presentation given by Ashe can be