Ryan Schweiger, St. Luke’s Penn Foundation (SLPF) behavioral health community liaison specialist, has been named to the seven-person Bucks County Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee by Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie.
Harvie selected members of the Bucks County community who have backgrounds in human services, substance abuse prevention and public safety.
In his current role with SLPF, Schweiger works with schools, community groups and others to provide education about addiction.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve on the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee,” said Schweiger. “As someone with lived experience with addiction as well as a professional in the field, I look forward to contributing my expertise from both perspectives to help develop effective, recovery-focused solutions that address the opioid epidemic.”
Amy Maurizio, St. Luke’s director of operations for substance use disorder and recovery services, said, “Ryan is the only member of the committee representing a treatment provider organization. He understands what is needed and is ‘boots on the ground every day’ in schools, at community events, and in supporting people in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He can be a much-needed voice for this population.”
Starting in June, the county expects to receive $44 million in opioid settlement funds over 18 years as the result of a lawsuit against manufacturers Johnson & Johnson and distributors, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson of prescription opioids. Schweiger will make recommendations to the county on how to use these funds.
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