Public Hearing: YES ? NO ? Department: Medical Examiner
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Request of Opioid Settlement Funds for Various Medical Examiner Operations
Body
Information Contact: Beoncia Loveless, Director of DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office
Phone Number: 404-508-3515
PURPOSE:
To utilize Opioid Settlement funds to finance a forensic fellowship position, a social worker position, and toxicology testing and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Medical Examiner's Office.
NEED/IMPACT:
The opioid epidemic has placed unprecedented strain on the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office, the state's crime laboratory, and public safety and child welfare entities. The surge in opioid-related fatalities has created a cascading effect throughout our system, resulting in:
* Dramatically increased caseloads that often exceed manageable limits. From 2015 to 2024, DeKalb County experienced a 116% increase in drug-related deaths, with the total number of cases reported to the Medical Examiner's Office increasing by 30% in this same timeframe. However, the population of DeKalb County increased by only 8% during that decade.
* Operational challenges compounded by the national shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists
* Staff burnout due to the volume and complexity of opioid-related death investigations
* Increased demand for specialized toxicological testing and analysis
This funding would support the complete compensation package for a forensic pathology fellow, including salary, benefits, travel and training expenses, and educational allowances. Funds would be donated directly to Morehouse School of Medicine and designated specifically for the DeKalb County/Morehouse Forensic Pathology Fellowship program. This investment directly addresses the physician shortage impacting Medical Examiner systems nationwide.
Enhanced toxicology capabilities ar...
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