After a couple of discussions, counties and Attorney General Anthony Brown have agreed to keep the current opioid settlement distribution agreement in place, continuing the original 70/30 split of funds between local governments and the State, respectively.
A number of national opioid settlements have been confirmed, with a handful left to go. The agreements send billions of dollars to states across the country for opioid remediation. Those national agreements then trigger localized statewide contracts that govern how the money is distributed once it comes to a state.
In 2022, after months of deliberation between counties, municipalities, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), an agreement was struck that would send 70 percent of total funds to local governments and 30 percent to the state. This was agreed upon with the understanding that local public safety, public health, and human service divisions, along with school systems, are dealing with opioid remediation every day. These are the agencies that are closest to the issue and nimble enough to work quickly when an issue demands as much urgency as the opioid crisis.
A recent request from the OAG sought to shift the agreement from 70/30 to 50/50, with 20 percent more revenue going to the state. After a series of discussions, counties and the OAG were able to come to an understanding that the 70/30 distribution is still the most effective way to move forward.
Current localized remediation efforts have been uniquely responsive to the community based needs that can vary across jurisdiction. Below are a number of the tactics currently being employed by local agencies who have been able to put settlement dollars to work quickly.
- medication assisted treatment
- crisis intervention and stabilization
- harm reduction services
- linkage to care
- mobile crisis response units
- peer specialists and coordination
- school based prevention
- recovery housing
- naloxone distribution
Read more Conduit Street coverage on opioid settlements.
