Allegheny County is bringing in millions from lawsuits against major opioid distributors and manufacturers — money designated as another weapon in the county’s arsenal to abate the opioid epidemic. So how is it being spent? Allegheny County is expected to receive at least $82 million over the next 15 years from nationwide settlements against various opioid distributors and manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, alleging they fueled the opioid crisis. The county so far received and allocated $8.42 million of the payouts on harm reduction, rehabilitation, prevention and wraparound services, according to members of receiving departments within the county. Pennsylvania will route 70% of the over $1.08 billion in settlement funds to counties through the PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust. The trust recommends several spending strategies and approved uses of the funds targeting treatment and prevention initiatives. Once in county hands, the funds are overseen by the county manager and county executive, but spending initiatives are heavily influenced by members within the receiving departments, which include the Department of Human Services, the Allegheny County Health Department and the Department of Children Initiatives, according to the Department Human Services Director Erin Dalton. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a release in December of last year, “These funds will be earmarked to offer and expand life-saving treatment options,” yet several counties pushed for allocating their funds to police enforcement.

Photo credit: Illustration by Pittsburgh Independent