Allegheny County Announces Latest Round of Opioid Settlement Funding
Published on August 27, 2026
PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County is awarding another $1.7 million in funding awards to community-based organizations working to address the opioid crisis. The awards represent the latest local disbursement of funding drawn from historic settlements with manufacturers and distributors of opioids for their roles in the opioid epidemic.
The announcement comes as Allegheny County sees promising signs of progress in the fight against opioid overdose. While not yet finalized, preliminary data from 2025 show that fatal overdoses in Allegheny County fell by an estimated 41% since 2023. Early projections for 2026 numbers appear to be continuing this trend. Comparing Q1 2026 to Q1 2025, the rate per 100,000 of people using emergency departments for drug overdoses fell by 26%.
"It is fantastic to see the decline in overdoses over the past few years, and we remain committed to helping even more people find their path to recovery,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato. “My administration is focused on meeting substance use disorder with compassion and practical, effective support. As Allegheny County invests opioid settlement funds, we’re dedicated to being transparent so residents can see how these resources are shaping the county’s response. The initiatives receiving funding in this announcement will build on our momentum — expanding care, strengthening communities, and offering renewed hope to individuals and families affected by opioid use disorder.”
The latest disbursement of funding, awarded through a competitive solicitation process, will support a diverse group of organizations including Awaken Pittsburgh, Give Tomorrow a Chance, Jeremiah’s Place, Outreach Therapy, Passages to Recovery, Inc., UPMC, Center for Street Medicine at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh, Team PSBG, LLC, The Open Door, Inc., and White Oak EMS.
Key investments include:
- Emergency childcare spaces for children whose parents are experiencing a substance abuse-related crisis
- An occupational therapist and pharmacist to support street outreach medicine teams that provide life-saving help to people staying outside, including vaccinations, medication, and help with disabilities resulting from opioid addiction
- Additional certified recovery specialists—people who have had success on their recovery journey and now can engage and support people who are struggling
- Low‑barrier, integrated care for people with xylazine‑associated wounds—combining treatment, addiction care, and harm‑reduction services
- Secure, DEA-compliant narcotic storage to five ambulances and one EMS station to ensure safe handling and documentation of opioids and reduce the risk of misuse or theft
With this additional investment, Allegheny County will have disbursed more than $24 million in opioid settlement funding to local projects. This is in addition to the $100 million spent annually on addiction-related services through the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS).
“The opioid addiction crisis demands a swift response and bold investment,” said Alex Jutca, Acting Director of DHS. “These awards allow us to invest in community‑driven solutions that supplement traditional treatment services. They also give us the opportunity to test new approaches, learn from what communities build, and sustain the strategies that prove most effective. While we are encouraged to see overdose rates declining, we also know that far too many people are still struggling. We remain firmly committed to examining how we can try new things, expand what works, and push ourselves to do better for every person on the path to recovery.”
"The encouraging decline in overdose deaths reminds us that meaningful progress is possible when we invest in evidence-based strategies and work alongside our communities,” said Dr. Iulia Vann, Director of the Allegheny County Health Department. “But every overdose is a preventable tragedy, and the changing drug supply requires us to remain vigilant and adaptable. These investments strengthen our ability to prevent overdose, connect people to compassionate care, reduce the harms associated with substance use, and support long-term recovery. By continuing to invest in innovative, community-centered approaches, we are helping save lives today while building a healthier, more resilient Allegheny County for the future."
Interested organizations can apply for future DHS solicitations at: qr.alleghenycounty.us/DHSSolicitations
To view overdose trends, investments, and more information on opioid settlement dollars visit: alleghenycounty.us/OpioidSettlement
Media inquiries may be directed to Cydney Cooper, Public Information Officer for the Department of Human Services, at cydney.cooper@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-506-0288.