DHS Seeks Ideas for $8 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds
Survey results will help prioritize how to best address opioid use disorder
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is asking the public to share thoughts on how to use a second round of opioid settlement funds to provide guidance on where money should be spent to reduce harms associated with opioid use disorder. Approximately $8 million will be available to support existing or new projects and programs in communities across Wisconsin. People can make their recommendations in a survey starting today through February 17, 2023. The survey is available in English(link is external) and Spanish(link is external).
In 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced final approval of an agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors (Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen) and Johnson & Johnson. Payments from the distributors will continue for 18 years. Payments from Johnson & Johnson will continue for nine years.
“The funds that Wisconsin DOJ helped secure from opioid companies will aid communities across Wisconsin in combating the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Input from those impacted by the epidemic will help maximize the good that these funds can do for Wisconsinites.”
DHS is required to submit a plan for anticipated settlement funds to the Joint Committee on Finance every year. The plan submitted to JFC in July 2022 included strategies to support data collection and surveillance, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, capital projects, and funding for tribal nations. The legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance approved a modified version of the $31 million plan for 2022 which included funds for:
- Supporting school-based prevention programs – $250,000
- Supporting community-based prevention programs – $750,000
- Expanding the NARCAN® Direct Program – $3 million
- Establishing and fund a program to distribute fentanyl test strips – $2 million
- Supporting medication-assisted treatment – $2 million
- Expanding the hub-and-spoke health home pilot program – $1 million
- Supporting room and board costs for Medicaid members in residential substance use disorder treatment – $2.5 million
- Supporting renovations or construction of care and treatment facilities – $10 million
- Creating an overdose alert system – $500,000
- Supporting tribal nations – $6 million
- Supporting law enforcement agencies – $3 million
The second year of funding can be used for existing programs or toward new projects to address impacts of the opioid epidemic in communities statewide.
Wisconsin has made huge strides to address opioid use disorder in the state since a nationwide opioid epidemic was identified in the early 2000s. This includes immediate and long-term projects like expanding the availability of NARCAN® to reverse opioid overdoses, making fentanyl strips more widely available, and planning to expand the hub-and-spoke health program which treats the whole person, not just the substance use disorder.
“Deaths from opioids are preventable and Governor Evers and DHS remain focused on our mission to provide hope and healing to the Wisconsinites affected by opioid use disorder,” Krupski said. “We look forward to hearing ideas for using this next round of settlement funds toward that goal.”
If you or someone you love needs help for an opioid use disorder or other substance use issue, contact the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline(link is external). Call 211 or 877-947-2211.
For more information on opioid use disorder, prevention, and treatment options, visit the Dose of Reality webpages.
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.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- County Executive Crowley, Chairwoman Nicholson Sign Legislation Approving $9 Million for Efforts to Compat the Opioid Crisis - County Executive David Crowley - Aug 15th, 2025
- How Are State’s Local Governments Spending Opioid Settlement Payouts? - Addie Costello - Aug 4th, 2025
- MKE County: How County Will Spend $9 Million in Drug Settlement Funds - Graham Kilmer - Jul 29th, 2025
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Announces Over $9 Million for Initiatives to Combat Opioid Epidemic - County Executive David Crowley - Jul 17th, 2025
- AG Kaul, 45 Other Attorneys General Plan to Join $720 Million Settlement with Eight Opioid Drug Makers - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Jul 14th, 2025
- Attorney General Kaul Announces Consent Judgment with Kroger Over Opioid Crisis - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Mar 21st, 2025
- Baldwin Votes to Strengthen Penalties, Step Up Enforcement Around Deadly Fentanyl - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Mar 17th, 2025
- Wisconsin Communities Get Millions From Opioid Settlement as Deaths Decline - Evan Casey - Mar 1st, 2025
- MKE County: County Creates Easy Public Access To Overdose Data - Graham Kilmer - Feb 18th, 2025
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and the Office of Emergency Management Launch New Overdose Dashboard - County Executive David Crowley - Feb 18th, 2025
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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