FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Date: Friday, June 21, 2024
PENNSYLVANIA OPIOID TRUST APPROVES OVER $50.9 MILLION FOR OPIOID TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENNSYLVANIA OPIOID TRUST APPROVES OVER $50.9 MILLION FOR OPIOID TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS
PENNSYLVANIA OPIOID TRUST APPROVES OVER $50.9 MILLION FOR OPIOID TREATMENT AND RECOVERY PROGRAMS
Harrisburg, PA – June 21, 2024 – The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is pleased to report its approval of 350 programs aimed at combatting opioid addiction, which programs reflect over $50.9 million in funds spent or committed by Counties across the Commonwealth.
By March 15, 2024, all 67 Counties in Pennsylvania submitted reports to the Trust detailing their expenditure of the funds that have come into Pennsylvania from national opioid settlements negotiated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Combined, Counties reported having spent or committed more than $70 million on programs intended to address opioid remediation. The programs identified in the March 15 Reports underwent an exhaustive review by working groups comprised of Trustees, which in turn provided recommendations to the entire Board of Trustees for review and consideration during a public meeting held on May 2, 2024.
At the May 2 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved 208 programs, totaling over $34.6 million, as compliant with the terms of Exhibit E to the various national opioid settlement agreements, which outlines the permissible uses of settlement funds. In addition to those programs approved, the Trust, in order to fulfill its responsibility to ensure funds are spent compliant with the terms of the settlement agreements, sought additional information from Counties related to certain other programs.
In late May, Counties submitted additional information in support of the programs still under review by the Trust. The working groups then reconvened to review that additional information in June. The Board of Trustees, at its June 20, 2024 public meeting, approved an additional 142 programs, totaling over $16.2 million in additional spending to combat opioid addiction in Pennsylvania. Between the May 2 and June 20 meetings combined, the Trust has approved 350 programs reflecting over $50.9 million in spending at the local government level to combat the opioid crisis.
Trust Chairman Tom VanKirk stated of the programs: "The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across the United States and the Commonwealth. It is the Trust’s hope that the programs implemented by the Counties will help address this crisis by providing the necessary funding to ensure that individuals and families struggling with opioid addiction have access to the care and support they need and deserve. Counties across Pennsylvania have answered the call and are establishing programs to address all aspects of addiction ranging from pre-natal treatment to recovery resources and access to necessary healthcare."
Approximately 76 programs, totaling another $10 million in additional spending, remain under review by the Trust and will be acted upon at a future public meeting.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust and its initiatives, please visit the Trust’s website (https://www.paopioidtrust.org/).
Contact:
administrator@paopioidtrust.org
About PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust:
The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (the “Trust”) was established by Order (“Order”) of the Honorable Lori Dumas of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on July 12, 2022. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of thirteen members. The Trust receives funds from settlements entered into by the PA Office of Attorney General and opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy companies. The Trust distributes those settlement funds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, counties, and certain subdivisions as directed by the court order, for use by those entities exclusively to abate the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania. The Trust is responsible for receiving and investing settlement money, disbursing annual settlement funds, reviewing county and subdivision certifications and annual reports on spending, and preparing an annual report and accounting for the authorizing court.
By March 15, 2024, all 67 Counties in Pennsylvania submitted reports to the Trust detailing their expenditure of the funds that have come into Pennsylvania from national opioid settlements negotiated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Combined, Counties reported having spent or committed more than $70 million on programs intended to address opioid remediation. The programs identified in the March 15 Reports underwent an exhaustive review by working groups comprised of Trustees, which in turn provided recommendations to the entire Board of Trustees for review and consideration during a public meeting held on May 2, 2024.
At the May 2 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved 208 programs, totaling over $34.6 million, as compliant with the terms of Exhibit E to the various national opioid settlement agreements, which outlines the permissible uses of settlement funds. In addition to those programs approved, the Trust, in order to fulfill its responsibility to ensure funds are spent compliant with the terms of the settlement agreements, sought additional information from Counties related to certain other programs.
In late May, Counties submitted additional information in support of the programs still under review by the Trust. The working groups then reconvened to review that additional information in June. The Board of Trustees, at its June 20, 2024 public meeting, approved an additional 142 programs, totaling over $16.2 million in additional spending to combat opioid addiction in Pennsylvania. Between the May 2 and June 20 meetings combined, the Trust has approved 350 programs reflecting over $50.9 million in spending at the local government level to combat the opioid crisis.
Trust Chairman Tom VanKirk stated of the programs: "The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across the United States and the Commonwealth. It is the Trust’s hope that the programs implemented by the Counties will help address this crisis by providing the necessary funding to ensure that individuals and families struggling with opioid addiction have access to the care and support they need and deserve. Counties across Pennsylvania have answered the call and are establishing programs to address all aspects of addiction ranging from pre-natal treatment to recovery resources and access to necessary healthcare."
Approximately 76 programs, totaling another $10 million in additional spending, remain under review by the Trust and will be acted upon at a future public meeting.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust and its initiatives, please visit the Trust’s website (https://www.paopioidtrust.org/).
Contact:
administrator@paopioidtrust.org
About PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust:
The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (the “Trust”) was established by Order (“Order”) of the Honorable Lori Dumas of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on July 12, 2022. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of thirteen members. The Trust receives funds from settlements entered into by the PA Office of Attorney General and opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy companies. The Trust distributes those settlement funds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, counties, and certain subdivisions as directed by the court order, for use by those entities exclusively to abate the opioid crisis in Pennsylvania. The Trust is responsible for receiving and investing settlement money, disbursing annual settlement funds, reviewing county and subdivision certifications and annual reports on spending, and preparing an annual report and accounting for the authorizing court.