County Executive Crowley, Chairwoman Nicholson Sign Legislation Approving $9 Million for Efforts to Compat the Opioid Crisis

MILWAUKEE – This week, County Executive David Crowley and County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson signed legislation approving more than $9 million in opioid settlement dollars to fund seven projects focused on opioid use disorder (OUD) abatement, prevention, and recovery programs.

This is the third cohort of opioid prevention projects that represent a major milestone in Milwaukee County’s multi-year strategy to confront the opioid crisis. These initiatives directly support the County’s strategic plan to achieve equity in all measurable areas by expanding access to life-saving care and support. The funds come from the more than $100 million in opioid settlement dollars Milwaukee County is receiving from distributors, manufacturers, pharmacies, and others found responsible for contributing to the opioid epidemic.

“My administration is putting opioid settlement dollars to work in ways that will save lives, strengthen families, and build safer, healthier communities,” said County Executive Crowley. “This investment reflects our commitment to help those who have been harmed by the opioid crisis through evidence-based solutions that meet people where they are. We owe it to every family impacted by this epidemic to keep working to combat the opioid epidemic – because lives depend on it.”

“This crisis has touched every corner of Milwaukee County, and far too many lives have been lost,” said Chairwoman Nicholson. “With today’s commitment, we’re sending a clear message: we will not leave our neighbors to fight this battle alone. These funds are a way to deliver healing, accountability, and hope to a community that has carried the weight of this epidemic for too long.”

The projects funded by opioid settlement dollars are informed by input from community stakeholders, service providers, and individuals with lived experience. The following projects were approved by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors for implementation during fiscal years 2026-2028:

• Aging and Disabilities Services Opioid Prevention Project: Deliver outreach to older adults and individuals with disabilities through door-to-door canvassing, harm reduction supply distribution, and engagement with senior living facilities.

• Community Regranting Program: Provide funding to community-based organizations to deliver prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services to underserved populations.

• Prevention Integration Initiative: Build capacity at DHHS to coordinate prevention education, implement universal screening tools, and support all opioid settlement-funded projects through a dedicated Prevention Integration Manager.

• Harm Reduction Supplies Distribution: Expand access to lifesaving materials through harm reduction vending machines and an online ordering system, reaching high-overdose areas across the county.

• Medical Examiner’s Office Staffing: Support critical positions including a forensic pathologist, medicolegal death investigator, and forensic chemist to improve turnaround time for investigations and data-driven decision-making.

• Housing and Services: Provide housing and services for vulnerable individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment in residential facilities.

• Harm Reduction Data Analytics: Enhance public data dashboards and explore health factors tied to opioid use by integrating EMS and hospital data to inform prevention and treatment strategies.

“We are grateful for this funding which will allow us to expand the life-saving work that began with the initial round of opioid settlement funds,” said Shakita LaGrant-McClain, Executive Director, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services. “We are committed to having a positive impact on the community by continuing our prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery work, with improved access to harm reduction supplies, targeted community outreach, and collaboration with community partners.”

“When I hear of an overdose, I can’t help but wonder what could have been done differently to prevent it,” said Cassandra Libal, Director, Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. “This crisis is a reminder of the ongoing challenges we face, and why it’s important to continue investing in strategies that save lives. Whether it’s through faster emergency response, better data to guide our actions, or putting harm reduction tools directly into the hands of those who need them most. This is about meeting people where they are, when they need us, and making sure help arrives in time”

Learn more about Milwaukee County’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic HERE.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.