A Roadmap for Opioid Settlement Funds:
Supporting Communities & Ending the Overdose Crisis
Unfortunately, since we released our inaugural Roadmap last year, the overdose epidemic has only gotten worse. In fact, we are in the midst of an unprecedented overdose epidemic, with more than 220 people each day dying from opioid-related drug overdoses.
Rather than focus on proven solutions —such as supportive housing, services and care — state lawmakers across the country are instead trying to “ticket and arrest” their way out of the problem. These punishing measures are torn directly from the well-worn pages of failed Drug War and “tough on crime” playbooks, which for decades have failed to get people off the streets and into stable housing. These tactics worsen homelessness on our streets, overcrowd our jails and hospitals, and wastes millions of taxpayer dollar
This second annual addition of “A Roadmap for Opioid Settlement Funds: Supporting Communities & Ending the Overdose Crisis” provides a path forward for elected officials, government agencies and others involved with the allocation of these critical funds.