State and local governments in the U.S. have begun spending billions in opioid settlements from companies accused of fueling the overdose crisis. A yearlong investigation by KFF Health News, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Shatterproof found that over $6 billion was received in settlements in 2022 and 2023. States allocated funds for addiction and mental health treatment, recovery services, harm reduction efforts, prevention programs, and other purposes. Treatment emerged as a top priority, with innovative approaches being funded. However, spending on neonatal abstinence syndrome and other areas was lacking. Some funds were also used for purposes unrelated to the opioid crisis, sparking controversy.
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How Are States Spending Opioid Settlement Cash? We Built a Database of Answers
