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Opioid Settlement Funds

Opioid Settlement Funds

Background

The opioid crisis is rooted in the late-1990s, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Purdue Pharma’s OxyContin which led the U.S. healthcare system to greatly increase the prescription of opioid painkillers. For more than a decade, the steady increase of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids continued with little attention. In 2011, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared deaths from prescription painkillers an “epidemic.” The crisis would surge for over a decade and continues today.

In response to the opioid epidemic, state and local governments around the country filed lawsuits against distributors, manufacturers, pharmacies, and those similarly engaged in promoting opioids, claiming a violation of the federal Controlled Substance Act. By 2023, it was confirmed that Milwaukee County would receive $111 million over the next 18 years through unprecedented nationwide opioid settlements – the largest amount recovered by any local government in the history of Wisconsin.

Allowable Uses

According to settlement guidance, opioid settlement funds can be used in various ways to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the opioid crisis. This includes funding for addiction treatment, recovery services, and initiatives aimed at preventing opioid misuse. Settlement guidance also emphasizes the importance of allocating resources to address the social and economic impacts of opioid addiction. Milwaukee County used this guidance to develop an allocation process to ensure funds are utilized to effectively address the root causes of the crisis and mitigate its widespread consequences.

Allocation Process

Milwaukee County’s Office of Strategy, Budget & Performance (SBP) convened Milwaukee County stakeholders in 2022 to develop an allocation process that addresses the opioid crisis holistically. The strategy was developed to meet urgent community needs while beginning support for long-term initiatives. The process requested proposals from internal department service areas that were informed by department-led community engagement. Projects could include one-time requests such as equipment or capital expenses or funds for up to three years of programming.

Annual Report

The annual report serves as an in-depth review of the opioid epidemic and how Milwaukee County used Opioid Settlement resources in 2023. The annual report also describes a five-year strategy developed by Milwaukee County to guide future spending, centering residents and community recovery.

Cover of Opioid Report

Projects

In total, $25 million has been allocated through two cohorts of funded projects. The first cohort of projects was authorized for spending $16 million across 15 projects, for fiscal years 2023-2025. The second cohort of projects was authorized for spending $8.5 million across 7 projects for fiscal years 2024-2026.

Below is a summary of projects for Cohort 1 (FY23-25). Projects for cohort 2 will be added soon.

Aging & Disabilities Services Opioid Prevention Project (DHHS)

The proposed project addresses and further identifies the unique needs of older adults at risk related to preventing and responding to opioid misuse, including trainings and outreach to stakeholders to promote prevention and assessment.

Coordination of Opioid Prevention Services Project (DHHS)

This project focuses on regranting opioid prevention and response funds to community-based organizations and increasing prevention capacity and coordination through a prevention manager role. This builds on DHHS’ track record of participatory and collaborative regranting processes. 

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Harm Reduction Kits (Office of Emergency Management)

The purpose of this project is to get Harm Reduction Kits in the hands of emergency responders for better application of counter-opioid tactics. Kits will have items like personal protective equipment, fentanyl test strips, and naloxone medication.

Harm Reduction Supplies (DHHS)

This project will increase access to harm reduction supplies using evidence-based harm reduction strategies, with outreach methods incorporating both a webpage and strategically located vending machines.

Homeless Outreach Project (DHHS)

Two treatment and resource navigators aim to expand Milwaukee County Housing Services' Homeless Outreach Team to provide additional services to those experiencing unsheltered homelessness and dealing with substance use disorders.

Staffing Needs (Medical Examiner)

All of the areas associated with death investigations are processes that are done by individuals. The additional positions will allow the office to perform these death investigations and provide the data associated with them to partners in a timely fashion.

Medication Assisted Treatment – Behind the Walls (DHHS)

This project will continue the successful program which reduces risk of overdose deaths for incarcerated individuals by offering the evidence-based practice of Medication-Assisted Treatment, which is known to be a best practice for individuals who are living with an opioid use disorder.

Patrol Division Narcan Deployment and Education (Sheriff's Office)

This project will provide line staff with training on the use of Narcan. It will also provide each Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Patrol Division nasal Narcan to carry during their tours of duty.

EMS Opioid Educator (Office of Emergency Management)

This project establishes an opioid-specific first responder and public education program to increase the level of training to those called to respond to overdose cases. The project will also increase the general knowledge of the public and families affected by opioid use, raising understanding to a level similar to the awareness of CPR.

Opioid Treatment in the Prehospital Environment (EMS-MAT) (OEM) 

With the recently-approved pilot use of Buprenorphine in certain programs, this project aims to establish a trial buprenorphine program to begin field inductions of this opioid antagonist to reduce the number of secondary overdoses, and to buy time for the patient to seek medical and substance abuse treatment.

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity (DHHS)

This project will offer start-up funding to support agencies who can develop new residential substance abuse treatment facilities, aiming to reduce the wait list of individuals in need of treatment for opioid use disorder.

Substance Use Education and Treatment for Justice Involved Youth (DHHS)

This project will provide evidence-based and evidence-informed opiate abuse prevention and intervention services for youth in detention and those returning to the community following detention.
 

Harm Reduction Data Analytics (OEM)

Develop and maintain an overdose surveillance dashboard that provides a deeper level of detail and visibility to EMS calls for suspected overdoses than is currently available in public facing dashboards.

Portable Body Cooler (Medical Examiner)

The replacement of the portable body cooler will provide an increased capacity for respectful body storage in a unit that is not operated by diesel fuel.

Autopsy Carts (Medical Examiner) 

Five autopsy carts will be purchased, which are necessary for investigations.

News

Submit Your Questions Here 

[email protected]

MILWAUKEE COUNTY OFFICE OF
STRATEGY, BUDGET & PERFORMANCE

Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th St., Room 308
Milwaukee, WI 53233

Email: [email protected]

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