People with substance-use disorder have little say in opioid settlement spending, analysis finds

People with substance use disorder across the country are not getting a formal say in how most of the approximately $50 billion in opioid lawsuit settlement money is being used to stem the crisis, a new analysis found (Source: “How should the opioid settlements be spent? Those hit hardest often don’t have a say,” Associated Press, Dec. 9).
 
Some advocates say that is one factor in why portions of the money are going to efforts they don’t consider to be proven ways to save lives from overdose, including equipment to scan jail inmates for contraband, drug-sniffing police dogs and systems to neutralize unneeded prescription medications.
 
Christine Minhee of Opioid Settlement Tracker and Vital Strategies, a public health organization, released a state-by-state guide on Monday outlining how government funding decisions are being made. The guide aims to help advocates know where to raise their voices.
 
Using that information and other data, Minhee found that less than $1 in $7 in opioid settlement funds is overseen by boards that reserve at least one seat for someone who is using or has used drugs, though some places where it’s not required may have such members anyway.