Good Morning!

The opioid epidemic has left a lasting impact on families and communities across the country. More than 81,000 people lost their lives to opioid overdoses in 2023 alone, and yet, despite billions of dollars in settlement funds, many communities are still struggling to access the resources they need.

But there is hope. A new analysis by Results for America estimates that if even half of these funds were invested in proven solutions, like naloxone distribution, drug-free housing, and medication-assisted treatment, thousands of lives could be saved. The potential is huge, but it will take real commitment from state and local leaders to ensure the money is spent where it can do the most good.

At the same time, federal lawmakers are taking action. This week, Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) introduced legislation to strengthen the fight against fentanyl trafficking, aiming to cut off the supply of synthetic opioids that are devastating communities. With bipartisan support, this bill illustrates the urgency of addressing the crisis at every level.

There’s no doubt that change is possible, but it won’t happen on its own. We have to stay engaged by pushing for transparency and advocating for investments that make a real difference. Together, we can turn the tide on this crisis.

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the Syndemic Summit 2025, taking place on September 19, 2025, in Huntington, West Virginia! Early Bird tickets can be bought at https://cutt.ly/2025-SyndemicSummit.

To see more about the 2024 Summit, check out our report and recap video at  https://communityeducationgroup.org/syndemic-summit/. If you’re interested in exhibiting or sponsoring, please reach out to ljohn@communityeducationgroup.org!

KACo Leadership Institute: Opioid Solutions

March 25, 2025 | Frankfort, KY

Register Here

This full-day training will equip county officials with the tools to effectively allocate opioid settlement funds and implement impactful solutions. Topics include:

• Best practices for settlement spending
• Recovery-ready community initiatives
• Measuring impact with data dashboards

Featured Speaker: Elizabeth Jade Harney – A critical care paramedic and addiction recovery advocate, Harney will deliver “Eclipsing Stigmas,” a powerful session on tackling the stigma surrounding substance use disorder.

Additionally, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will provide updates on new reporting requirements for local governments receiving settlement funds.

For questions, contact Lauren Carr at lauren.carr@kaco.org.

Webinar: Medicaid’s Role in the Opioid & Overdose Crisis

March 26, 2025 | 2:00 PM EST

Register Here

Medicaid is the largest payer of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment in the U.S., covering 40% of adults under 65 with OUD. This webinar will explore how recent Medicaid policy changes could impact access to care and overdose prevention efforts.

Expert Speakers Include:

• Jocelyn Guyer, MPP – Manatt Health (Medicaid funding pathways)
• Dr. Bradley Stein – RAND Corporation (Medicaid disenrollment & buprenorphine access)
• Gabrielle de la Guéronnière, JD – Legal Action Center (Medicaid & justice-involved populations)
• Katie Greene, MPP – NASHP (State-level prevention & treatment strategies)

The webinar will feature a Q&A session and insights from top researchers on how Medicaid policies are shaping the fight against opioid overdoses.

Alabama

The City of Mobile has approved more than $2.2 million in opioid settlement funds to support treatment, prevention, and recovery programs across the community. The Helio Alliance vetted 32 applications and selected 16 organizations to receive funding.

Investments include:

• Mobile United ($150K) – A youth-led drug prevention program in high schools
• Mobile Metro Treatment Center ($40K) – Transportation scholarships for patients via UberHealth
• Mobile Community Corrections ($313K) – Expanding drug court services for 200 more participants
• Franklin Primary Health Center ($204K) – Enhancing opioid treatment services, naloxone distribution, and peer recovery coaching
• The Lovelady Center ($200K) – Scholarships for women in long-term recovery

More information about all 16 applications can be found here.

Meanwhile, grandparents raising children orphaned by overdose deaths continue to struggle for support. Advocacy groups are pushing for opioid settlement funds to assist these families, who often receive little financial aid despite taking on full-time caregiving roles.

Georgia

The Georgia Sheriff’s Association has received a $416,000 grant from the Opioid Abatement Trust to expand its C.H.A.M.P.S. program (Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety). The initiative educates students on the dangers of substance abuse, with funding aimed at training more deputies and reaching more kids statewide.

Commissioner Kevin Tanner emphasized that the program is about “empowerment, protection, and building a future where fewer families suffer the heartbreak of addiction.”

Georgia will receive $638 million in opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years, with more funding announcements expected soon.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure has proposed stricter rules for buprenorphine prescribing, including dose limits, mandatory counseling, and frequent drug testing. Experts warn these changes could create barriers for people in recovery, making it harder to access lifesaving medication. Kentucky ranks among the top states for buprenorphine dispensing, with evidence showing its effectiveness in reducing overdose deaths.

The Louisville Metro Council voted on an amended $2.9 million opioid settlement spending plan on March 14, 2025, which prioritizes prevention and treatment programs, including:

• $1.6M for school-based prevention and mental health services
• $700K for a homeless diversion court program (which has faced pushback from advocates)
• $315K to expand Casey’s Law enforcement for court-ordered addiction treatment
• $300K for program evaluation to measure effectiveness

See the full council meeting video and transcript here.

With funding from opioid settlement grants, Rowan County has approved $179,000 to support a new Doves of Gateway shelter. Officials say many domestic violence survivors face housing instability due to opioid-related abuse in the home.

Fayette County’s overdose deaths declined from 177 in 2023 to 120 in 2024, indicating a significant step forward, according to Mayor Linda Gorton. The city credits harm reduction efforts, expanded Substance Use Disorder programs, and increased Narcan distribution for saving lives.

The Murray City Council has approved a plan to use opioid settlement funds to open a Recovery-Ready Community Center, operated by Volunteers of America Midwest. The city will invest $100K per year for three years to support the initiative.

Wayne County Schools, in partnership with the Wayne County Fiscal Court, has allocated opioid settlement funds to install vape detectors in middle and high school restrooms. This initiative aims to deter substance use and promote a safe learning environment for students.

Maryland

The Maryland-D.C. Society of Addiction Medicine (MDDCSAM) is urging state lawmakers to ensure opioid settlement funds are used to expand services rather than replace existing state funding. In testimony against Senate Bill 495, the organization warned that using Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) dollars to fund the state’s Opioids Enforcement Unit could divert resources away from critical treatment and prevention programs.

Experts including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the National Governors Association, and the RAND Corporation have identified supplanting (using settlement funds to replace, rather than supplement, existing state dollars) as a major risk that could limit the funds’ impact. Other states, including Connecticut, New York, and California, have already passed laws to prevent opioid settlement funds from replacing current spending.

MDDCSAM is calling for greater transparency and accountability in how Maryland allocates its settlement funds to ensure they support new, evidence-based addiction treatment, prevention, and harm reduction initiatives.

New York

New York is making significant investments in opioid settlement funds and behavioral health services to combat the overdose crisis and improve access to mental health care.

• Yates County has allocated over $260,000 in opioid settlement funds to support housing services, harm reduction efforts, and recovery programs. The Finger Lakes Addiction Counseling and Referral Agency (FLACRA) and Our Town Rocks will expand their outreach, providing Naloxone access, treatment transportation, and recovery center activities.
• Seneca County approved opioid settlement funding for two new peer advocate positions in the Mental Health Department to support individuals with substance use disorders.
• New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an additional $33 million investment in mental health services through the Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence program. This builds on a $41 million investment from last year and includes opioid settlement funding to expand access to psychiatric care, harm reduction, and recovery services.

North Carolina

North Carolina’s $7.4 billion opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma is set to bring $150 million to the state, with 85% of funds going directly to local governments. Durham County will receive a portion of these funds, adding to the $1.4 billion settlement from 2022.

Durham’s opioid settlement manager, Jaeson Smith, is leading efforts to develop a long-term spending plan, focusing on prevention, treatment, and recovery. Initial investments include syringe distribution, naloxone awareness, and peer support services. A community advisory committee is being formed to guide funding decisions, with more details to be shared at Durham’s annual public meeting in May.

Additionally, Durham City Council is set to allocate $1 million in opioid settlement funds, including $200,000 to expand Project MAPS, a mobile treatment unit providing medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction, and primary care services.

Ohio

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation has awarded a grant to Unite Us to expand addiction treatment services in Montgomery County. This funding will strengthen the Unite Ohio care coordination network, enhancing connections between CliniSync, ADAMHS, and local providers to improve opioid recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, Summit County Jail received a $187,000 grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to hire an Addiction Services Coordinator, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) specializing in medication-assisted treatment (MAT). The new role will focus on assessing inmates, providing treatment plans, and coordinating post-release care to break the cycle of addiction and incarceration.

Read the press release here.

Pennsylvania

The Cambria County Drug Coalition has been awarded up to $200,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to support opioid prevention efforts. The funding will help launch a campaign focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), addressing childhood trauma as a risk factor for substance misuse.

This grant, part of a $1.5 million statewide initiative, comes from a Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals opioid settlement and must be used to combat opioid use disorder. Other recipients include organizations in Allegheny, Philadelphia, Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Schuylkill, Chester, and Montgomery counties.

Tennessee

In Sumner County, leaders are working to enhance community resources using opioid settlement funds. The Opioid Abatement Committee is exploring ways to improve local housing conditions and strengthen community programs. Meanwhile, Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas is hiring a Substance Abuse Recovery Navigator, funded by a $500,000 grant, to help individuals connect with treatment and recovery services.

Learn more about the position here.

In Hamilton County, officials launched Tennessee’s first overdose prevention team, integrating EMS personnel, peer support specialists, and navigators to provide immediate and long-term care for those affected by opioid addiction.

In Knoxville, $400,000 in opioid settlement funds is being distributed to public safety and recovery efforts. The Knoxville Police Department will use $300,000 for drug investigations, including purchasing a surveillance van. The Metro Drug Coalition will receive $60,000 to support addiction prevention and treatment services, while the Knoxville Fire Department will use $40,000 to improve overdose response training and equipment.

West Virginia

In Mercer County, officials have approved $100,000 in opioid settlement funds to help renovate the new Mercer County Sheriff’s Office. The project, which also received $1.75 million from the American Rescue Plan, aims to provide expanded space for deputies and improved operations. The department plans to complete the move by July.

Wheeling City leaders are grappling with the financial impact of homelessness on the city budget. Officials are discussing how to better allocate resources, including potential opioid settlement funds, to support managed homeless camps and reduce cleanup costs. Advocates argue that a coordinated effort between nonprofits and local government is needed to provide sustainable solutions.

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

Harrison County, Kentucky

The Harrison County Fiscal Court has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects aimed at preventing and addressing the impact of the opioid epidemic. Funding is available for organizations focusing on opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery, including support for substance use disorder, polysubstance use, and co-occurring mental health issues.

• Application Period: February 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025
• Funding Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

The number of awards and funding amounts will vary annually based on available settlement funds. Interested entities can obtain the full RFP package from the Bluegrass Area Development District or online at Harrison County Fiscal Court News.

Blair County, Pennsylvania — application info. (DUE 3/20)

(courtesy of OpioidSettlementTracker.com)

Miami County, Ohio — application info. (DUE 3/28)

(courtesy of OpioidSettlementTracker.com)

Virginia STOP! Grant— application info. (DUE 4/1)

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