The opioid settlement money is flowing into law enforcement coffers, sparking skepticism among those who say it's not addressing the root causes of the addiction crisis. In West Virginia, where Hardy County Commissioner Steven Schetrom's commission plans to spend a quarter of its settlement money on law enforcement, residents like Bre Dolan are questioning whether this approach will truly help families battling addiction.
Dolan, who has been through her own struggles with addiction and recovery, believes that more funds should be directed towards social workers, family support programs, and treatment centers. "How is that really tackling an issue?" she asks. "How will it help families battling addiction?"
The opioid settlement money is expected to flow into local governments over the next two decades, with more than $50 billion allocated nationwide. While some officials say law enforcement is crucial in rural areas, many experts argue that equipping police officers with overdose reversal medications and other prevention tools has been shown to save lives.
In contrast, initiatives like hiring social workers to accompany officers on overdose calls have been deemed effective by public health experts. However, the way the money is being spent varies widely from state to state. Some jurisdictions have allocated funds for basic first responder services, such as firefighter salaries, while others have used it to buy guns and vehicles.
The misuse of opioid settlement funds has sparked concern among advocates, who fear that this practice will become more common as states grapple with federal budget cuts. In New Jersey, lawmakers recently allocated $45 million in settlement funds to health systems, a move opposed by the state's attorney general and advocates.
Meanwhile, some states are taking proactive steps towards transparency. Colorado has released guidance against using opioid settlement funds for budget games, while other states like Maine, Maryland, and Kentucky are requiring local governments to report how they spend the money.
As Jennifer Twyman, an advocate from Louisville, Kentucky, puts it: "We have people literally dying on our sidewalks." She believes that any spending that doesn't directly help those struggling with addiction betrays the settlement's purpose. "It is the blood from many of my friends, people that I care deeply about," she says.
Dolan, who has been through her own struggles with addiction and recovery, believes that more funds should be directed towards social workers, family support programs, and treatment centers. "How is that really tackling an issue?" she asks. "How will it help families battling addiction?"
The opioid settlement money is expected to flow into local governments over the next two decades, with more than $50 billion allocated nationwide. While some officials say law enforcement is crucial in rural areas, many experts argue that equipping police officers with overdose reversal medications and other prevention tools has been shown to save lives.
In contrast, initiatives like hiring social workers to accompany officers on overdose calls have been deemed effective by public health experts. However, the way the money is being spent varies widely from state to state. Some jurisdictions have allocated funds for basic first responder services, such as firefighter salaries, while others have used it to buy guns and vehicles.
The misuse of opioid settlement funds has sparked concern among advocates, who fear that this practice will become more common as states grapple with federal budget cuts. In New Jersey, lawmakers recently allocated $45 million in settlement funds to health systems, a move opposed by the state's attorney general and advocates.
Meanwhile, some states are taking proactive steps towards transparency. Colorado has released guidance against using opioid settlement funds for budget games, while other states like Maine, Maryland, and Kentucky are requiring local governments to report how they spend the money.
As Jennifer Twyman, an advocate from Louisville, Kentucky, puts it: "We have people literally dying on our sidewalks." She believes that any spending that doesn't directly help those struggling with addiction betrays the settlement's purpose. "It is the blood from many of my friends, people that I care deeply about," she says.
. its like they're saying "look at us we solved crime" when really its just masking a bigger issue. addiction is super complex and needs a holistic approach, you can't just throw more cops at it 
. i mean dont get me wrong law enforcement has a role but come on. social workers, treatment centers, that's where the real help is 
. and another thing how much of this settlement money is actually being spent on these initiatives? its like they're not even transparent about it 
. we need to hold our leaders accountable for using this money wisely 
! You've got 50 billion bucks coming in from opioid settlements and we're still focusing on law enforcement? 
It's all good and well for those who are addicted, but what about the root causes of this crisis?! Social workers, family support programs, treatment centers - that's where the real change needs to happen 
. And don't even get me started on the transparency issues... it's like some states are playing budget games with people's lives 
. We need to be holding our leaders accountable for how they're spending this money, not just slapping a Band-Aid on the problem 
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it's just not addressing the root cause of addiction crisis... those social workers and family support programs would be so much more effective 
. They're spending it on guns and vehicles instead of helping people struggling with addiction? That's not right 
. We need to make sure the money is being used to fund treatment centers, social workers, and family support programs. Just throwing cash at law enforcement isn't going to solve this crisis 
. We need more transparency and accountability from our government officials, especially in rural areas where resources can be scarce. Transparency is key here 
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. And it's heartbreaking when advocates like Jennifer Twyman have to say that people are literally dying due to lack of support 
. We need to do better, and we need to prioritize those struggling with addiction over bureaucratic games 
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. Anyway, back to this opioid settlement thing... I mean, what if we could use some of that money to create these interactive exhibits or pop-up art installations in rural areas where addiction is a big issue? It might help people see the problem from a different perspective and spark conversations about it 
. And can you imagine how cool it would be to have a 'recovery arcade' where people could play games while getting support and resources for their loved ones struggling with addiction? 
. like, how about we actually invest in actual help instead of buying more guns & fancy vehicles? 
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. i feel 4 bre dolan & all the other people strugglin w addiction n recovery. they just wanna see real change n not have govts play games w their money 
. We need more than just police officers with meds and fancy vehicles 
, and it's not just a local issue – it's a national epidemic 
. I think we should be focusing on prevention, not just law enforcement 
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for how they're spending this money 
. It's the least we can do for ppl who are literally dying on our watch 
- states that require local governments to report how they spend the funds are doing it right. It's all about accountability and making sure our tax dollars are being used for good. We need to put people over politics, you know? 
. It feels like some governments are more interested in perpetuating the status quo rather than addressing the root causes of addiction. In West Virginia, where a quarter of the settlement money is going towards law enforcement, I'm not sure how that's gonna make a tangible difference for families struggling with addiction. Have we learned nothing from the overdose epidemic? 
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and had the craziest thought - have you ever noticed how weird it is when you're driving along and you see a perfectly good parking spot, but someone always seems to take it? Like, what's going on with that? I swear, my car has been passed over like 5 times already 
. I mean, can't we find a way to put some money towards actual treatment centers and support programs instead of just law enforcement? 
. That's just not right. We need more transparency, you know? Colorado's guidance against using opioid settlement funds for "budget games" is a good start