states and localities

In 2024, a joint investigation by KFF Health News, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Shatterproof found that nationwide more than $61 million in opioid settlement funds were spent on law enforcement-related efforts.

In 2024, states and localities spent or committed nearly $2.7 billion in opioid settlement funds, according to public records compiled by the investigation.

In 2024, documented allocations of opioid settlement funds included about $615 million for treatment, $279 million for overdose-reversal medications and related training, and $227 million for housing-related programs for people with substance use disorders.

In 2024, approximately 20% of opioid settlement funds were untrackable through public records, based on the investigation's compilation of expenditures.

In 2024, trackable opioid settlement spending included about $615 million for treatment, $279 million for overdose-reversal medications and related training, $227 million for housing-related programs for people with substance use disorders, more than $237 million (about 9% of trackable spending) for prevention efforts, and roughly 20% of settlement funds were untrackable through public records.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the federal agency responsible for funding and supporting efforts to address serious mental illness and substance use, including providing support to states and localities for overdose prevention.