Opioid Settlement Dollars
Combating the Opioid Epidemic: Trends, Investments & Settlement Funding
In 2021 and 2022, states and localities reached historic settlements with manufacturers and distributors of opioids for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Now, state and local governments, including Allegheny County, are receiving settlement funds as the result of those lawsuits. Learn more about overdose trends in Allegheny County, annual investments in prevention and treatment, and how the county uses settlement dollars to combat the epidemic with innovative approaches.
Overdose Trends in Allegheny County
Opioid overdoses are a serious concern in Allegheny County, impacting individuals, families, and communities across the region. Every overdose is a tragedy, and most are preventable.
Allegheny County tracks fatal and non-fatal overdoses as one indicator for monitoring ongoing impacts of the opioid epidemic. In 2017, Allegheny County experienced the highest number of fatal overdoses in a single year, losing over 800 people. Since then, Allegheny County has been working diligently to reduce that number, which includes recognizing that all groups haven’t been affected equally. In recent years, Black residents have died from overdoses at a rate more than three times that of white residents.
The county has seen improvement. Preliminary data from 2024 shows a large decrease in the number and rate of overdose deaths among all residents. Though rates of overdose among Black men are still higher than the other groups, this number continues to decrease as well. Explore more information about overdose trends in Allegheny County below.
Substance Use Prevention and Treatment: Investments in Allegheny County
Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services (DHS) invests $100 million annually in substance use treatment, prevention, and harm reduction. Services are delivered to 13,000 residents annually through community-based providers. In 2024, nearly half the people receiving services were diagnosed with opioid use disorder. While small relative to these annual investments, opioid settlement funds fill gaps that are otherwise difficult to address with other funding sources, including upfront capital cost, treatment for the uninsured, and innovative approaches to addiction treatment.
Explore the Quick Count tool below to examine the number of people receiving substance use services and compare involvement with other systems.
Opioid Settlement Investments
In Pennsylvania, the PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust was formed to distribute the funds to its counties. The settlement funds are intended to treat opioid use disorders, prevent opioid misuse, and address other harms of the opioid epidemic. The funds must be spent for authorized uses in accordance with Exhibit E of the National Opioid Settlement.
Allegheny County began receiving opioid settlement funds in 2022 and expects to receive a median payment of approximately $7.2 million per year through 2038. Allegheny County departments, including Health, Human Services, and Children’s Initiatives, work together to plan for how the county will distribute the funds. County departments receiving funding propose projects to the County Executive’s Office, which are approved by County Council.
Examples of projects that have started already include:
- Providing safe syringe service programs
- Piloting incentives for drug treatment adherence (i.e. using a behavioral therapy that uses “rewards” to help people stay on the path to recovery)
- Enhancing treatment and post-incarceration care for Opioid Use Disorder for people in the Allegheny County Jail
- Expanding "warm hand off” capacity and referral mechanisms from local ERs
Projects launching soon:
- Launching a "street stabilization team" that works with people who are unhoused, with highly complex needs, to help them stabilize and get connected to care
- Expanding supportive housing options for people in recovery
As Allegheny County plans for additional opioid settlement funding, departments continue to seek community engagement by conducting surveys and listening sessions to hear from residents about how they think funds should be invested to mitigate the opioid epidemic.
Annual Settlement Report and Spending Dashboard
Learn more about how Allegheny County is investing these funds by exploring the annual report and fiscal dashboard.
Propose a Solution
To propose delivering a solution to the opioid epidemic, submit a proposal to the Department of Human Services.
Where to Get Help
In Allegheny County, Pathway to Care and Recovery is the “front door” to access substance use disorder treatment and recovery services. If you or someone you know needs help, call 412-325-7550 to talk to a certified peer (24/7) who has been through the treatment and recovery process. Additional resources and campaigns are listed below.
- Allegheny Connect provides key contact information, including telehealth resources.
- Connect Protect Recover is a campaign for family members supporting people with opioid use disorder, particularly in communities that have been disproportionately affected.
- Harm Reduction Allegheny lists information about harm reduction supplies, including how to get access to Narcan, test strips, and syringe services.
- PA 2-1-1 is a central place to direct any non-emergency human services resource questions, 24/7/365.