More than three years after Michigan communities began receiving settlement funds to fight the opioid epidemic, some communities have yet to spend any of the money. Michigan is set to receive at least $1.6 billion over 18 years from settlements with drug manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies deemed partly responsible for the opioid crisis, with the state receiving half and the remainder split between counties, townships, and cities.
Funds began arriving in January 2023. Despite the passage of time, the sluggish pace of spending in some communities has frustrated state leaders. A 2024 Bridge investigation found that more than 40% of communities had not spent any funds, with about $90 million sitting in bank accounts. A spring 2025 survey by the Michigan Association of Counties found that of 36 counties responding, 40% had yet to spend money, an improvement from 2024 when 51% hadn’t spent any.
Grand Traverse County, where Traverse City is located, has about $2 million from the settlement in the bank and is expected to receive $6.2 million overall but has spent none. County Health Officer Mike Lahey stated it took time to figure out how to use the one-time funds to best address the crisis. Eaton County ($300,000 annually) remains in a planning stage. Lenawee County will consider proposals for its first spending in April, while Isabella County expects to spend its first settlement funds in 2026.
One success story: Michigan has spent $14.8 million of settlement money for 424,882 naloxone kits since 2023, credited in part with a decline of almost 1,000 overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024. However, opioid deaths remain a significant public health concern, with nearly 3,000 Michiganders killed in 2023 alone, though overdose deaths declined by a third to 1,938 in 2024.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.newsday.com/news/nation/michigan-opioid-settlement-funds-communities-e98056