MEDIA CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-us.org, 203 470 9979
NEARLY 200 ORGANIZATIONS ISSUE SECOND ANNUAL ROADMAP TO REDUCE OVERDOSE CRISIS WITH OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS
Every Dollar of Opioid Settlement Funds Should Go to Proven Public Health Approaches, Not Ineffective and Failed Drug War Policies or Programs
A Roadmap for Opioid Settlement Funds: Supporting Communities & Ending the Overdose Crisis is Available Here
**PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT**
NEW YORK – Today, a national coalition of nearly 200 organizations working on the frontlines of the overdose crisis nationwide are releasing an updated roadmap to instruct policy makers and public health officials on how to distribute over $50 billion in opioid settlement funds. The roadmap details how these critical funds should and should not be spent, and provides strategies for funding evidence-based public health solutions through a transparent process. This revamped roadmap comes ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31) and as our country continues to endure historic overdose deaths.
Public health experts, service providers, criminal justice organizations, and people who use drugs call on states to invest 100% of these funds in evidence-based solutions that are proven to reduce overdoses, save lives, and give those with substance use disorder opportunities for effective pathways including treatment, rather than put them behind bars.
Key recommendations from the Roadmap include:
- Reject Funding Systems and Policies that Advance the Drug War: Do not further criminalization or bolster the criminal legal system, family separation, dangerous “treatment” approaches, unproven prevention programs, and corporate money-grabs masquerading as harm reduction.
- Full Access to FDA-Approved Substance-use Treatments and Supports: Support all forms of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and harm reduction initiatives, including syringe service programs, naloxone access, and overdose prevention centers.
- Community Support and Recovery Programs: Expand of housing, outreach, and wraparound support services for individuals affected by drug use and related convictions, ensuring they do not face barriers to essential services.
- Reform and Rehabilitation Efforts: Fund programs to address the collateral damage caused by the War on Drugs, including second-chance employment opportunities, recovery-to-work initiatives, and expungement of criminal records.
Since the release of the first edition of this roadmap last August, more than 100,000 lives have been lost to preventable overdose. This report details the successful and unsuccessful steps states have taken in the past year to keep people safe. The report also condemns the recent Supreme Court ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson that will lead to further criminalization of people who use drugs.
Voices from the Frontline:
“We can never get back the countless loved ones we’ve lost to preventable overdoses, but we will continue to fight in their name for the solutions that could have saved their lives. Opioid settlement dollars must be spent on proven solutions, care, and services – not on expanding the drug war or increased criminalization. Lawmakers at every level of government have a path before them: fund and implement solutions laid out in this roadmap, or stand by as the overdose crisis needlessly claims more of our community members’ lives on their watch.” — Jawanza Williams, VOCAL-US Director of Organizing.
“Through lengthy litigation and the strength of devastated families and communities, these funds belong to those directly impacted by the catastrophic opioid epidemic, not the government! All funding should be spent with a public health approach and not on the stigmatizing, punitive and demoralizing War on Drugs approach.” – Elizabeth Burke Beaty, National Sea Change Coalition & Sea Change RCO & HRC
“Opioid settlement funds come from broken hearts, so must be used respectfully and wisely. People who use drugs and their loved ones have real solutions, ready to be funded. If we do not follow their leadership we are destined to waste not only money, but precious lives too.” – Minister Blyth Barnow, HEAL Ohio
“Opioid settlement funds present a tremendous opportunity to secure mass nationwide investments in Harm Reduction, housing, and treatment to keep people safe from overdose. But they also present a tremendous risk for carceral forces to secure mass investments and expansions of the police state. This roadmap provides the tools states need to invest in the public health supports that will protect our communities.” — Analilia Mejia and DaMareo Cooper, Co-Executive Directors of the Center for Popular Democracy
“Money that flows to our communities can do good, or do more harm. The overdose crisis took and continues to take too many of our loved ones’ lives. It’s time to recognize the need for public health and harm reduction solutions, over punishment and criminalization. Money won’t bring back those we have already lost, but the opioid settlement funds can prevent additional deaths if spent well. This roadmap provides key insights into what works and what should be invested in. Let’s save lives!” – Sondra Youdelman, Campaigns Director, People’s Action
About the Coalition:
This roadmap was created by a national coalition of organizations, including The Center for Popular Democracy, Community Education Group, HEAL Ohio, Legal Action Center, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Maryland Chapter, New Jersey Organizing Project & New Jersey Resource Project, National Sea Change Coalition & Sea Change Recovery Community Organization & Harm Reduction Center (NJ), People’s Action and VOCAL-US.
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