Commissioners say opioid settlement funds needed, but won’t cover prior costs

Eleven grants were awarded Thursday.

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

Westmoreland commissioners conceded more than $2.6 million doled out Thursday will help ease the burden of opioid addiction.

Agencies and nonprofits aimed at drug treatment, recovery and education programs are among those funded through legal settlements with major drug makers and distributors.

“The money is great but it doesn’t make up for the undisputed impact opioids had on our community,” said Commissioner Ted Kopas. “It’s disappointing that we can’t use a portion of that money to offset the county’s costs incurred because of the epidemic. We had massive costs.”

The county in 2022 received the first portion of its share of a $26 billion settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by hundreds of municipalities across the United States. Westmoreland was slated to receive $22 million over 17 years. Subsequent lawsuit settlements have increased the county’s allocation to as much as $30 million, said Human Services Director Rob Hamilton.

Those funds, though, must be spent on programs that address drug recovery, treatment and education.

A study released in 2017 by Westmoreland Controller Jeff Balzer, during the height of the epidemic, said about $19 million was spent annually as a result of opioid addictions and overdoses through impacts on the criminal justice system, corrections and other county social service programs.

“We had to spend a lot of money and when these lawsuits were filed, we expected to recoup money we were forced to pay. I would like to see it expanded to allow us to do that,” Kopas said.

The money awarded Thursday continues funding for some organizations and expands the array of programs that can be paid for with the settlement cash.

“We want to fund more programs and we’ve opened it up to more providers this year,” Hamilton said.

Tim Phillips, director of the county’s department of community relations and prevention, said expansion of a program launched last year by Mutual Aid to provide nitrous oxide to patients who object to pain killing medication is an example of how the settlement funds can benefit residents.

“It’s important for us to fund recovery programs and it’s important to connect people with services. I would like to think this effort is helping,” Philips said.

Overdose fatalities have declined in recent years.

According to the coroner’s office, there was a 15% decline in overdose deaths last year in Westmoreland County. The coroner said 81 deaths were attributed to overdoses in 2024, compared with 95 in the year prior. Fatal overdoses last year were the lowest since 2012, when 78 people died. A record high of 198 fatal overdoses were recorded in 2017.

Grants awarded Thursday include:

• $785,000 to Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission for prison treatment and prevention programs and other educational programs.

• $5,417 to Mutual Aid for nitrous oxide and supplies.

• $16,000 to Westmoreland County Action for recovery reemployment partnership program expansion.

• $175,000 to WIN Workforce Development Program for employment programs.

• $135,000 to North Huntingdon Township for DARE program.

• $204,430 to Lost Dreams Awakening for recovery coach academy and community recovery ambassadors.

• $179,651 to Sage’s Army Inc. for community outreach and helpline coordinators; transportation programs.

• $360,000 to Westmoreland County Prison.

• $390,000 to Westmoreland County Department of Community Relations and Prevention.

• $25,000 to Westmoreland County Drug Court for transportation services.

• $450,000 to Westmoreland County Behavioral Health for student assistance programs.