Rep. Sam Creekmore, the Republican House Public Health and Human Services chairman from New Albany, plans legislative action to ensure Mississippi cities and counties spend opioid settlement funds on mental health. In September, Mississippi Today revealed that of the $15.5 million local governments received from corporations enabling an addiction epidemic killing over 10,000 Mississippians, less than $1 million addressed prevention.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s 2021 contract allows towns, cities, and counties to spend settlement shares on any public purpose without reporting requirements. Communities are expected to receive an additional nearly $48 million over the next 15 years. Creekmore believes all opioid settlement money should fund addiction and mental health abatement. “They need to spend it on abatement for opioid addiction, PTSD, TBI (traumatic brain injuries),” he said. “And they need to be spending it now.”
Sen. Hob Bryan, the Democrat Senate Public Health and Welfare chair from Amory, expressed general support for Creekmore’s efforts while requesting to review specific legislation first. He emphasized the need for comprehensive planning: “The problems of addiction don’t stop at city limits or county lines. It’s a state problem. To me, it works better if all the money is spent in some sort of coordinated fashion.”
Creekmore also proposed requiring local governments to publicly report settlement spending. Tennessee consultant Tricia Christensen noted these guidance structures are effective, citing North Carolina’s detailed frequently asked questions providing direct spending steps. Meanwhile, the state Legislature controls the majority of Mississippi’s $89 million in settlement funds but will not begin distribution until July 2026, contributing to Mississippi spending less than every other state on addiction abatement.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.enterprise-tocsin.com/lawmaker-plans-help-mississippi-cities-counties-spend-opioid-settlement-funds-mental-health-68e833377787d