How cities and states are spending opioid settlement money

The opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017. It’s killed more than half a million people in the U.S. since. That declaration has been extended every year and continues to today. According to the latest CDC data, in 2023, an average of 217 people died per day from an opioid overdose.

Companies that sold, manufactured, and distributed opioids have taken much of the blame. And in 2021, they reached settlements with jurisdictions nationwide. Over $58 billion are being distributed over nearly 20 years from those opioid settlement funds.

Billions of dollars have made their ways to state and local counties to combat the opioid crisis and help rebuild communities ravaged by it. So, how are cities and states spending that settlement money? And is it actually helping?

You can find how your state and local governments spent or committed their opioid settlement funds here. And below are a list of the voices 1A Producer Michelle Harven included in her reported piece at the top of the hour.

Ed Mahon, investigative reporter at Spotlight PA

Carla Sofronski, executive director of the PA Harm Reduction Network

Silvana Mazzella, executive director of Prevention Point

Gladys Rodriguez, Pennsylvania mother of a son who passed away from an overdose