Ohio foundation seeks proposals for distribution of opioid settlement money

Ohio is ready to begin awarding millions of dollars in opioid settlement money to community and government organizations, an influx eagerly anticipated since the first sums were secured in 2021 (Source: “Ohio foundation begins process to distribute millions in opioid settlement money,” Associated Press, March 4).
 
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, which has been tasked with distributing more than $860 million of settlements reached with drugmakers and pharmaceutical companies for their roles in the national opioid crisis, released its formal request for proposals on Monday.
 
The foundation will allocate up to $51 million in its 2024 grant cycle for Ohio-based non-profits, for-profits and government entities alike who are “on the frontlines of Ohio’s opioid battle.” The program is the first of its kind in the United States.
 
Those applying must follow certain parameters outlined by OneOhio, including that all programs and services proposed must be “evidence-based, forward-looking strategies for prevention, treatment, (and) recovery support services.”
 
Drugmakers, wholesalers, pharmacies and other companies have agreed to settlements that are to pay state, local and Native American tribal governments more than $50 billion. Under the agreements, most of the money is to be used to address the overdose epidemic.