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Brief History of the Opioid Settlements
Learn more about national opioid settlements reached in 2022.
The opioid epidemic has taken an enormous toll on counties’ communities and governments. In 2021, over 107,000 people died of a drug overdose in the United States. Opioids were involved in 75% of these deaths. While we cannot change the past, counties can now leverage opioid settlement funds to sustain and strengthen our ongoing response.
What other settlements should I know about?
The second largest settlement reached to date is the up to $6 billion settlement from Purdue Pharma. This settlement was reached between 48 states and Purdue Pharma in March 2022. However, this settlement is currently on appeal in federal court. To track the progress of the Purdue settlement and several smaller nationwide lawsuits, view the Global Settlement Tracker on OpioidSettlementTracker.com.
ACCESS THE GLOBAL SETTLEMENT TRACKER
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Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
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Blog
How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner Deterra. Empower Your Community: Enhance Drug Disposal Programs with At-Home Deactivation & Disposal Solutions -
Blog
Opioid settlement deadline for counties looms April 18
Counties have until April 18 to sign on to participate in the allocation of billions of dollars in settlements from the “big three” pharmacies. -
Blog
County officials discuss harm reduction as a path forward through the overdose epidemic
Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch, director of the Baltimore County, Md. Department of Health and Human Services, speaks at NACo’s 2023 Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence III. -
Reports & Toolkits
Planning Principles Toolkit
Tools, templates and strategic guidance for maximizing the impact of opioid settlement funds on your community’s opioid abatement priorities. -
Reports & Toolkits
Medication-Assisted Treatment (“MAT”) for Opioid Use Disorder
This resource summarizes the evidence behind medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. -
Reports & Toolkits
Effective Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder for Incarcerated Populations
This resource describes evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorder for incarcerated persons.
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County News
County reshapes justice system for women battling mental health issues
Problem: Too many women who needed mental health support were being incarcerated and left untreated. Solution: -
Blog
U.S. Surgeon General releases Advisory and National Strategy to Advance Social Connection
On May 2, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” highlighting the growing number of individuals in the U.S. -
Press Release
National Association of Counties Releases Data on Mental Health Crisis
Commission on Mental Health and Wellbeing Advocates for Policy Solutions at White House, on Capitol Hill -
Webinar
Familiar Faces Initiative: Model Jurisdictions for Improving Outcomes through Coordinated Health and Justice Systems
In 2022, NACo relaunched the Familiar Faces Initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month to support counties and cities in better meeting the needs of their familiar faces—individuals with complex health and behavioral health conditions who frequently cycle through jails, homeless shelters, emergency departments and other crisis service -
Reports & Toolkits
Behavioral Health Conditions Reach Crisis Levels: Counties Urge Stronger Intergovernmental Partnership and Outcomes
Counties are facing an acute escalation of the mental and behavioral health crisis. In a recent NACo survey, 75 percent of counties reported an increase in the incidence of behavioral health conditions over the past year and 89 percent reported an increase compared to five years ago. -
Blog
How counties can extend the reach of drug disposal programs with at-home drug deactivation and disposal
This blog post is sponsored by NACo partner Deterra. Empower Your Community: Enhance Drug Disposal Programs with At-Home Deactivation & Disposal Solutions
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for urban counties, please join the June 15 session.06132:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for rural and smaller suburban counties.
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Webinar
Prenatal-to-Three Peer Learning Network: How the Social Determinants of Health Impact Families and Children
Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties. To learn more about strategies for rural counties, please join the June 13 session.06152:00 pm<p><strong>Note: This convening will focus on strategies for urban and larger suburban counties.
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Basic page
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid, a skills-based training administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, friends and colleague -
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Healthy Counties Initiative
Healthy Counties focuses on enhancing: public-private partnerships in local health delivery, access to, and coordination of, care for vulnerable populations in the community and community public health and behavioral health programs. -
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Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.page<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
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Basic pageJustice & Public Safety Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.page<p>All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency preven
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Reports & Toolkits
Opioid Solutions Center
NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.10123:30 pmReports & Toolkits<p>NACo's Opioid Solutions Center empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and harm reduction practices that save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorder.
