The opioid crisis continues to be a significant public health concern, with opioid-involved overdose deaths nearly quadrupling between 2010 and 2021, including from synthetic opioids like fentanyl. However, there has been progress in addressing the issue, with multiple financial settlements totaling over $26 billion dollars awarded to states, counties and municipalities as redress for the harms caused by pharmaceutical companies in creating this epidemic.
Building on the strong history of collaboration including the National City-County Task Force on Opioids, the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) examined the distribution of settlement dollars across cities, counties and states. This brief highlights the ways that cities and counties are working in partnership to address the ongoing crisis using these funds, including pooling resources to support more comprehensive approaches to improve individual and community outcomes.
Download the Brief to learn how many municipalities, counties, and states are eligible to receive settlement funds and to explore best practices from partnerships among cities and counties.
SOURCE: National League of Cities