Hi there,

As we step into April, there’s a renewed sense of momentum in the nation’s opioid response efforts. As discussed in last week’s newsletter, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has officially extended the Public Health Emergency declaration for the opioid crisis, ensuring that critical support for prevention, treatment, and recovery continues flowing to the communities that need it most. While recent data show a meaningful drop in overdose deaths, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are still claiming far too many lives each day. This renewal is a reminder that we’re making progress…but we’re not done yet.

In addition to federal updates, the Center for Public Health Law Research is taking a closer look at how state laws continue to shape access to buprenorphine treatment. A new dataset from Temple University and Vital Strategies highlights the policy patchwork across the U.S., where some states are easing barriers, and others are holding on to outdated requirements that may stand in the way of effective care.

There’s a lot happening at every level of government, and we’re here to help you stay on top of it all. Thanks, as always, for the work you do to make your communities healthier and safer.

— The CEG Team

Upcoming Event: Sam Quinones Public Lecture at MTSU

Join Middle Tennessee State University on Monday, April 7 at 6 p.m. for “From Crisis to Community: Stories of Hope in the Shadow of Fentanyl,” a public lecture by acclaimed journalist and author Sam Quinones. Hosted in Room 104 of the Academic Classroom Building, this event kicks off National Public Health Week on campus and will explore themes from Quinones’ award-winning book The Least of Us.

Presented by MTSU’s Office of Prevention Science and Recovery and the Public Health Program, this lecture is a powerful opportunity to hear firsthand from one of the nation’s leading voices on the opioid crisis and community recovery. Parking info here.

Naloxone Community Engagement Report Webinar

Join Harm Reduction Therapeutics for the release of their 2024 RiVive® Community Engagement Report! This webinar will share insights from interviews with individuals who have used RiVive and survived overdose—highlighting what makes an overdose response compassionate and how naloxone dosing plays a central role.

Date: April 14, 2025

Time: 3:00pm EST

Register here.

Georgia

In Rockdale County, commissioners approved a $595K budget reduction by eliminating six vacant positions across several departments, redirecting funds to salary increases for the Transportation Department, Superior Court, and accountability courts. Notably, a new part-time administrator coordinator role was created to support the opioid abatement program, funded by grants and settlement dollars.

Meanwhile, Carroll County is set to vote on a grant agreement with the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust on April 1. The state received over $650 million in opioid settlements to support prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

Kentucky

Kentucky continues to take significant steps in addressing the opioid crisis through both legislative action and community investment. On March 25, Gov. Andy Beshear signed 20 new bills into law, including House Bill 537, which provides clarity on how opioid settlement funds can be used across the state. Gov. Beshear emphasized the importance of safeguarding how these funds are distributed to support prevention, treatment, and recovery.

That same week, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced nearly $20 million in new opioid settlement grants awarded by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. These funds are being used to support 75 organizations across the Commonwealth that are tackling addiction at the local level.

Grantees include:

• UK St. Claire HealthCare (Rowan County) – Applying for funds to support Recovery Rowan County and First Day Forward, two programs focused on community-based care and reentry support from detention.
• Goodwill Industries of Kentucky – Awarded nearly $400,000 to expand pre- and post-release recovery programming for justice-involved individuals.
• Barren County Fiscal Court – Received $185,000 to enhance SMART Recovery services and harm reduction strategies.
• Lifeline Recovery Center and Four Rivers Behavioral Health – Serving western Kentucky with over $425,000 to deliver residential and outpatient addiction treatment, especially for individuals with co-occurring mental illness.
• Operation UNITE – Provided $859,000 to expand school-based drug prevention programming across more than 50 eastern Kentucky counties.
• Hope Center, Family Scholar House, and Voices of Hope – All received significant funding to provide wraparound support including recovery housing, job training, and peer mentoring services.

Attorney General Coleman called the funds “blood money,” iterating that the resources were recovered from the corporations responsible for devastating Kentucky families and communities. Since 2021, the Commission has awarded over $85 million statewide.

North Carolina

In Jackson County, a Local Settlement Council has been formed to guide the use of its $6.1 million allocation. A public call for project proposals just closed, and selected initiatives will be reviewed in April and funded for up to three years. Priorities include early intervention, recovery support, and Naloxone distribution. Commissioners expressed strong interest in sustaining jail-based treatment and expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Cumberland County is hosting a free webinar series to help small nonprofits build capacity and apply for upcoming settlement funds—responding directly to feedback from local town halls. The county’s next RFP will fund five multi-year projects, each requiring partnerships between community organizations and treatment or healthcare providers.

Meanwhile, Mecklenburg County, set to receive $73 million over 18 years, is investing $11 million in its first phase, with a strong focus on prevention, housing, and employment services for those in recovery. Upcoming initiatives include expanded Naloxone distribution, post-overdose response teams, and treatment access for incarcerated individuals.

Ohio

Montgomery County awarded nearly $3.9 million to 14 local organizations, including Dayton Children’s Hospital and Dayton Street Medicine, focused on prevention and recovery. Regional boards reviewed 85 proposals, emphasizing long-term impact and community readiness.

In Scioto County, where overdose rates have historically been the highest in the state, local leaders and providers like HopeSource continue to call for a more equitable share of funding. Despite receiving some support through broader regional grants, advocates say targeted investments in Portsmouth are urgently needed for recovery housing, stigma reduction, and youth prevention.

Clinton County holds over $600,000 in OneOhio funds but has not yet allocated them. Community advocates are urging local officials to invest in services for unhoused individuals affected by substance use disorder. Prevention strategies for youth are also being considered.

Ashland County approved $20,241 from its settlement funds to upgrade to the CodeRED emergency alert system, which the EMA says could warn residents of potential fentanyl exposure and share treatment resources.

Meanwhile, eight counties—including Summit, Ashland, and Erie—received a combined $1.2 million in new state grants to support jail-based addiction treatment. Summit County will hire an addiction services coordinator to manage withdrawal care, prescribe medications, and support reentry planning.

Pennsylvania

Counties across Pennsylvania continue to allocate opioid settlement funds, with more than $2 billion expected over 18 years. Recent awards include $267,000 in Luzerne County to sustain a drug treatment program after state funding gaps, and $20,000 in Washington County to support a withdrawal management unit at Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital.

However, calls for greater transparency are growing. Advocates and investigative journalists have raised concerns about the lack of public reporting by the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust, which oversees the funds. Upcoming forums like the “Voices of the Epidemic” event in Berks County aim to elevate community voices and push for more inclusive decision-making around spending.

South Carolina

Dorchester County is enhancing overdose response and data coordination through a new online tracking tool, the Critical Incident Management System (CIMS), funded by the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund. The county’s $55,000 investment, part of its $2.3 million allocation over 19 years, supports overdose prevention, treatment, and enforcement efforts.

CIMS will allow law enforcement and agencies to log, monitor, and follow up on both fatal and nonfatal overdoses. It will also support a community paramedic program, enabling EMS responders to conduct follow-ups and link individuals and families to services. Leaders say the system standardizes care and enhances accountability across agencies, with a goal to launch by fall 2025.

Tennessee

In Anderson County, nearly $425,000 was distributed to about 15 organizations addressing addiction from multiple angles. One recipient, the Free Medical Clinic, is using its funding to expand mental health services and hire a patient navigator to help uninsured and low-income individuals overcome barriers to care.

In Hawkins County, commissioners allocated their 2023 funds to launch an EMS-led pilot program focused on opioid education and early intervention. The initiative includes purchasing two emergency vehicles—one for community outreach and another for unmarked emergency response. Though some commissioners raised concerns about the focus, EMS officials emphasized the importance of meeting people where they are to prevent crisis-level incidents.

Both counties plan to offer additional funding opportunities in future cycles as the settlement funds continue to roll in annually.

Warren County is recruiting for “Opioid Abatement Council Program/Project Coordinator”. Find the job description here.

Virginia

The City of Martinsville is considering the creation of a Kinship Navigator Family Services Specialist position using opioid settlement funds from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. The role would support kinship caregivers and help reduce the risk of substance use among youth in foster care by providing connection to services, psychological support, and recovery guidance.

The three-year, $254,932 initiative is a joint effort with Henry County, with Martinsville’s share ($84,892) fully covered by settlement funds. If approved, the position will not require any local match and aligns with broader goals to strengthen prevention and recovery supports across Southside Virginia.

West Virginia

The West Virginia First Foundation continues to expand its impact with more than $6 million in “Second Chance” grants awarded to nearly 100 prevention, treatment, and recovery organizations statewide. Among grantees is the WV Drug Intervention Institute, receiving $74,747 to support the Nalox(ONE) West Virginia program—an initiative that trains pharmacists to assess opioid risk and offer naloxone at the point of prescription.

Local governments are also deploying opioid settlement funds:

• Fairmont re-established an ad hoc committee to review applications for its $600,000+ fund, with grants opening May 1.
• Mercer County launched a task force to ensure transparent and community-informed spending of its $2.8 million, with initial investments in the sheriff’s office and health department.
• Putnam County has spent over $650,000 on law enforcement training, equipment, and jail costs, but has no formal application process.
• Wheeling is investing $463,000 in its Crisis Response Team, purchasing vehicles and radios to support peer-led intervention.
• Weirton allocated $489,000 to its police and fire departments for K-9 units, medical gear, and training, with more awards expected soon.

Weirton, West Virginia — application info. (“[f]unding decisions are made by the Weirton City Council”) (courtesy of OpioidSettlementTracker.com)

West Virginia First Foundation (RFP) Needs Assessment— application info.. (DUE 4/18)

For more grant opportunities, check out: OpioidSettlementTracker.com. To share unlisted grant opportunities, email tips@OpioidSettlementTracker.com. For other tips, contact aor@communityeducationgroup.org.

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