DHS Submits Updated Proposal for Opioid Settlement Funds to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance
Plan includes recommendations on how the state should use $31 million awarded from agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that it has received the first payment of more than $6 million from the National Prescription Opiate Litigation (NPOL) settlement funds. In anticipation of receiving these funds, and in compliance with state law. Last Thursday, DHS submitted an updated proposal to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance for how to use and invest the nearly $31 million Wisconsin was awarded from the NPOL for calendar year 2022. The NPOL funds are part of a nationwide agreement that was made with three major pharmaceutical distributors and Johnson and Johnson, to prevent, treat, and support recovery from opioid use disorder.
DHS proposes to invest settlement funds in a variety of strategies, including:
- Making immediate investments in harm reduction
- Investing in harm reduction by increasing the availability of Narcan and fentanyl test strips around the state
- Making investments in new and updated treatment facilities
- Funding for tribal nations to address the dramatic increase in opioid overdose deaths
- Enhancing data collection and surveillance
- Funding for family support centers to provide information, education, and healthy coping skills, while building resiliency, for family and friends of a person with substance use disorder
These different strategies will be carried out in phases that will correspond to the specific payments Wisconsin will receive this year, with the entire amount for each payment allocated in the plan.
“By holding accountable those who contributed to and profited off the opioid crisis, Wisconsin DOJ, states across the country, and county and local governments have secured substantial recoveries to help fight the epidemic,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “This payment and those that will follow must be put to use promptly so these funds can begin addressing the impacts of this devastating epidemic as soon as possible.”
On February 25, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) announced final approval of the opioid agreement with three major pharmaceutical distributors, Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen and Johnson and Johnson. Payments from the distributors will continue for 18 years, while payments from Johnson and Johnson will continue for nine years.
On July 12, 2022, the state was notified that Wisconsin will receive payments from these settlements in calendar year 2022. The initial payment of $6 million was received today. It is expected the remaining $25 million will be paid later this calendar year.
In anticipation of receiving settlement funds, DHS held 12 regional listening sessions in early 2022. Nearly 600 people living with an opioid use disorder, their families and friends, and providers of opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery support services participated in these virtual events and nearly 900 comments were submitted through the online survey.
Earlier this year, DHS partnered with DOJ to unveil an updated Dose of Reality information and education campaign to change the conversation around the state’s opioid epidemic by providing the tools to prevent or reduce the risk of opioid misuse through open and honest discussions about the dangers of opioids and ways to save lives.
Wisconsin’s opioid crisis began in the late 1990s and has been evolving since, with an almost 900% increase in opioid overdose deaths between 1999 and 2018. Opioid overdose deaths decreased by 10% in 2018, but increased significantly in 2020 to a record high of 1,227. The COVID-19 pandemic, a rapid increase in the amount of synthetic opioids, and rise in the use of multiple drugs are believed to be responsible for the increase in overdose deaths.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Law Enforcement Agencies Awarded Grants from State Opioid Settlement Funds - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Apr 18th, 2024
- MKE County: County Wins Award for Opioid Settlement Fund Usage - Graham Kilmer - Apr 4th, 2024
- MKE County: County Offering $2.8 Million For Opioid Addiction Programs - Graham Kilmer - Mar 28th, 2024
- Senator Baldwin Calls on House to Pass Bill that Cracks Down on Fentanyl Traffickers - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Feb 15th, 2024
- Attorney General Josh Kaul announces $350 million settlement with marketing firm over its role in opioid epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Feb 1st, 2024
- Grants Will Fund Recovery Housing For Those Facing Homelessness and Battling Opioids - Margaret Faust - Jan 12th, 2024
- Baldwin Helps Advance Bipartisan Bill to Address Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - Dec 14th, 2023
- DHS and DOJ Announce Dose of Reality Roundtable Discussions on Wisconsin’s Opioid Epidemic - Wisconsin Department of Health Services - Dec 6th, 2023
- Limited Supply of Narcan Prevents Milwaukee Groups From Saving Lives - Edgar Mendez - Dec 1st, 2023
- MUPD, Wisconsin Voices for Recovery partner to install Nalox-ZONE boxes on Marquette campus - Marquette University - Oct 12th, 2023
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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