DHS Submits Plan to Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance on How to Use $8 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds
Money is part of the $400 million award the state receives annually from settlements with pharmaceutical companies
Today, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its plan to use nearly $8 million in opioid settlement funds to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) to support prevention, harm reduction, and capital projects to address the state’s opioid crisis. The money is part of the $400 million the state receives in annual installments through an agreement with major pharmaceutical firms. $130 million of the total amount goes to the state, while the remainder is provided to counties and municipalities.
“As with last year’s proposal, this plan prioritizes what people with lived experiences, their families and friends, and our partners told us is needed to address the state’s opioid crisis,” said Paul Krupski, DHS director of opioid initiatives. “People who responded to our survey ranked the programs and services they see as priorities, and we’re eager to have the committee’s approval of them.”
Priorities include:
- Increasing the availability of Narcan® and fentanyl test strips statewide via existing DHS programs ($4 million).
- $1.5 million to maintain the availability of Narcan® statewide via the DHS Narcan® Direct Program through community provider agencies.
- $500,000 to maintain a statewide distribution of fentanyl test strips via the DHS fentanyl test strip direct program through community providers.
- $1 million to sustain the EMS Leave Behind Program providing EMS agencies with Narcan® and fentanyl test strips.
- $750,000 to sustain the DHS Law Enforcement Narcan® Direct Program
- $250,000 to sustain providing fentanyl test strips to law enforcement agencies participating in the DHS Law Enforcement Narcan® Direct program.
- One-time capital projects ($3 million)
- Capital projects to expand prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and/or recovery services statewide.
- Prevention ($1 million)
- Implementation of K-12 evidence-based substance use prevention programming.
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.
This year, Wisconsin will receive two payments from these settlements. The first payment of $617,290 from Johnson and Johnson is expected to arrive in mid-June. The second payment of $7,371,693 from the distributors is expected on July 30.
The opioid settlement funds supplement the ongoing efforts by the state to address the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin. Through the Dose of Reality campaign, a joint effort of DHS and DOJ, Wisconsinites can find resources for themselves and loved ones about preventing harm using overdose reversal medications, like Narcan® and fentanyl test strips, treatment and recovery options, and information about talking to family and friends about opioid use. Resources for health care providers is also available.
While data for 2022 has yet to be finalized, 2021 data show there were 1,427 opioid overdose deaths in Wisconsin, and 3,133 emergency room visits, as a result of opioid use. An increase in overdose deaths can be traced in large part to the addition of fentanyl, a powerful, synthetic drug, in substances like opioids.
If you or someone you love needs help for an opioid use disorder or other substance use concern, contact the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline. Call 211 or 877-947-2211.
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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