Good afternoon!

We wanted to bring to your attention a column titled “Appalachians Continue to Lose the War on Drugs: The Opioid Settlement Episode” by Tasha Withrow. In this piece, she discusses how West Virginia is allocating opioid settlement funds, with some localities prioritizing law enforcement initiatives over treatment, recovery, and harm reduction efforts.

West Virginia is pursuing an independent legal strategy for opioid-related litigation and is not part of the national opioid settlement. As a result, the state follows its own guidelines outlined in Exhibit A of its Memorandum of Understanding. Unlike the national settlement’s Exhibit E, which includes syringe service programs as a core strategy, West Virginia’s Exhibit A prioritizes “funding for law enforcement efforts to curtail the sale, distribution, promotion, or use of opioids and other drugs to reduce the oversupply of licit and illicit opioids, including regional jail fees.” Additionally, local governments can use up to half of their settlement funds to reimburse themselves for past expenses that align with the approved purposes in Exhibit A.

This approach has led to significant portions of settlement funds being directed toward law enforcement. In Jackson County, for example, the county commission voted to spend $566,000 on a law enforcement training center, which included $300,000 for a new shooting range. Meanwhile, organizations focused on harm reduction are facing challenges in securing funding. Project Mayday, a local harm reduction group, had a modest $5,000 request for overdose response kits denied without an opportunity to present their case. This money, as Tasha points out, “is meant to alleviate the harms caused by the war on drugs—not perpetuate it.”

Kentucky

Rowan County Fiscal Court approved using settlement funds to hire a school resource officer at Rowan County High School to lead anti-drug programs. News reports that more than $130,000 will be go to a partnership between UK St. Claire, Frontier Housing, and D.O.V.E.S of Gateway to support individuals leaving situations involving substance use. The Rowan County Attorney says there are plans to fund a new vehicle to transport people who are incarcerated to their jobs as part of the county’s second chance program.

New York

Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved $185,260 of settlement funds to extend a previous $110,000 one-year agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to a two-year term, providing two school-based Certified Recovery Peer Advocates; with this approval, the new agreement extends the contract with Captain Community Human Services, Inc. through December 31, 2026. 

Virginia

Fairfax County has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for ASAM level 3.5 Clinically Managed High-Intensity Residential and 3.7 Adolescent Medically Managed Residential, Residential Crisis Stabilization services and 23-hour crisis stabilization in community-based sites for adolescents, aged 13-17 (or younger on a case-by-case basis). The funding is part of a Cooperative Partnership award with other northern Virginia localities from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA).

Pulaski County is using settlement funds to hire a Director for the Department of Drug Prevention. This role will focus on creating and implementing a public awareness campaign, developing educational materials, identifying resources, and strengthening referral networks for opioid prevention and treatment. The Director will also collaborate closely with the Pulaski Community Partners Coalition and the Pulaski County Commission on Children and Families.

West Virginia

Jonathan Dower has been reappointed to represent Region 4 on the West Virginia First Foundation for three years. He was initially appointed in May to fill the unexpired term of Jonathan Board, who resigned to become the foundation’s executive director. During a recent meeting of the Monongalia County Commission, representatives from seven counties and seven municipalities in Region 4 unanimously supported Dower’s reappointment. Dower was the only nominee.

Alabama

Oversight Commission on Settlement Funds

• TBD
• In-person in Montgomery, AL
• Can watch live on their website (choose ‘Room 200’ for location then ‘Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds’ for meeting)

You can also watch livestreams and recordings on The Alabama Channel (thanks to the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund)

Kentucky

Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (meeting info here)

• Business Meeting: November 12, time TBD
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY and attendees can give public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their YouTube channel
• Prevention/Reform/Compliance Subcommittee Meeting: TBD
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY
• Treatment & Recovery Subcommittee meeting: TBD
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY

Maryland

Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council (meeting info here)

• October 21, 3:00pm – 4:00pm EST
• Meetings are all-virtual. Can watch live via Google Meet & there is usually an opportunity for public comment

New York

Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board (meeting info here)

• October 28, 10:00am – 3:00pm EST
• In-person located in Albany, and attendees can give public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their website

Monthly ‘Community’ meeting: 4th Wednesday of the month at 12pm

• See this page under ‘Community Input’

Ohio

OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board (meeting info here)

• Full Board Meeting: October 29, 10:30am EST
• In-person meetings are located in Columbus and are open to the public, but there is usually no opportunity for public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their website
• Audit & Finance Committee: October 21, 2:00pm EST
• Executive Committee: October 23, 9:00am EST (or immediately following board meeting)
• Grant Oversight Committee: October 23, 3:00pm EST
• Expert Panel: October 24, 2:00pm EST
• Investment Committee: TBD

Regional Information Sessions (see events calendar for most up-to-date info)

• TBD

Pennsylvania

Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (meeting info here)

• Board of Trustees Meeting: November 21, 10:30am – 2:00pm EST
• In-person located in Harrisburg
• All are virtual and can be watched live via Zoom and recordings on YouTube 

South Carolina

Opioid Recovery Fund

• SCORF Board Meeting: TBD (info here)
• Coffee Chat: November 1 9:30am EST, virtual
• This is held the first Friday of the month and is an opportunity to ask questions and hear announcements about opioid settlement funds

Tennessee

Opioid Abatement Council

• Emergency Meeting: October 28, 7:00-8:00pm EST, virtual (info here)
• Meeting: December 13, 1:00pm EST (info here)
• In-person located in Franklin, TN. (Location rotates around the state.) Meetings are also available to watch via Teams – All attendees can give public comment
• Recordings and meeting minutes are available on their website

Virginia

Opioid Abatement Authority (meeting info here)

• Grants Committee: December 6, 3:00-5:00pm EST
• Finance Committee: TBD
• Board Meeting: TBD

West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. (meeting info here)

• Board of Directors meeting: TBD
• Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month