opioid settlement funds

New opioid settlement funds slated to boost harm reduction, treatment programs in Forsyth

5:00am May 06, 2025

The largest proposed share would go to Twin City Harm Reduction Collective, which provides clean syringes, naloxone, and connections to recovery services for people with opioid use disorder.

How are states spending their opioid settlement cash? Look yours up in this database

5:00am December 16, 2024

From addiction treatment to toy robot ambulances, here's how state and local governments used billions in opioid settlement funds in 2022 and 2023. Explore this database to find our how officials are using the payouts where you live.

Forsyth County officials share new opioid settlement spending priorities

1:39pm April 19, 2024

by April Laissle

Forsyth County health officials plan to set aside more funding from a state settlement with opioid manufacturers for medications used to treat substance use disorders.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, has introduced legislation with Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, to put guardrails around the use of billions of opioid settlement funds.

Proposed federal law would put limits on use of $50 billion in opioid settlements

5:00am January 22, 2024

by Aneri Pattani

Lawmakers want to ensure the funds are actually used to fight the addiction crisis, not "as a piggy bank for other projects."

Advocates and victims of the opioid crisis gather outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 2023, while the justices hear a case about Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy deal. The protesters urged justices to overturn the deal, which would give the Sackler family immunity against future civil cases related to opioids.

In 2023, opioid settlement funds flowed to states. Here's how it's going

4:10pm December 21, 2023

by Aneri Pattani

Some $1.5 billion flowed to local government coffers this year, sparking debates about transparency and how to spend the money. Here are 5 takeaways from a year's worth of reporting on the issue.

Health & Safety

Forsyth County prepares to distribute more funding to combat the opioid crisis in 2024

7:00am December 21, 2023

by April Laissle

Forsyth County is preparing to distribute more funding from a multi-million dollar state settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers.

Last year, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses. Advocates and family members marked the tragic toll with cardboard grave markers on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 23.

States are getting $50 billion in opioid cash. And it's an issue in governor's races

10:25am November 01, 2023

by Aneri Pattani

Some candidates for governor are sparring over bragging rights for their state's share of opioid settlement funds. Some are attorneys general who pursued the lawsuits that produced the payouts.

States and counties nationwide are using opioid settlement funds for law enforcement efforts, including buying new squad cars. This draws criticism that the funds should be invested in treatment instead.

Law enforcement eyes opioid settlement cash for squad cars and body scanners

4:38pm October 20, 2023

by Aneri Pattani

Some state and local governments have started tapping in to opioid settlement funds for law enforcement expenses. Many argue it should go toward treating addiction instead.