13/ If you’re looking for more: I’ve been covering the use of opioid settlement funds for over 3 years now. Here you can find all my published work, send me a tip, and download various data sets: www.kffhealthnews.org/opioid-settlements

/end

12/ Speaking of the project team... Compiling this database is a massive, year-long undertaking that involved more than a dozen people. Big thanks to everyone listed below, including Kristen Pendergrass, Abigail Winiker, Lydia Zuraw, and several others.

11/ Among the most important caveats: This database should NOT be compared to a similar one @kffhealthnews.org, @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social & @shatterproofhq.bsky.social compiled last year, due to methodology changes & state budget quirks. Contact the project team with ?s: opioidpayback@kff.org

10/ You can read the full methodology, which explains the data’s limitations here: kffhealthnews.org/wp-content/u...

9/ Of course our database doesn’t capture everything. Many places don’t publish spending reports or reports lack detail. It's a snapshot of 2024, and doesn't show 2025 spending. But we hope it helps fill a gap in public knowledge about this money. public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

8/ And when settlement funds pay for such efforts, there’s less left for strategies “that we do know work,” Richter added. Her organization outlined a bunch of effective prevention strategies in this guide: drugfree.org/reports/guid...

7/ These included a 1950s style sock hop where attendees pledged to remain drug free, a mixed martial arts demonstration, a fishing tournament, and a drug awareness magician.

“There is no evidence” to back those efforts, said Linda Richter of Partnership to End Addiction.

6/ Nationwide, more than $237M went to efforts broadly aimed at preventing addiction, from community awareness events to hiring school mental health counselors. But many examples raised red flags for researchers. kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

5/ Bre Dolan, an EMT in WV who's in recovery, said officers are “good men and women" who "care about seeing their community recover." But it's unfair to expect them to tackle the root causes of addiction. She’d like money to support social workers & foster kids from a young age.

4/ Research shows drug busts/arrests are ineffective at reducing addiction deaths. But many local officials in charge of the money said their constituents believe it works & want to fund it. This is “how my population would like me to vote,” one official said. public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

3/ Smaller, though notable, amounts funded law enforcement gear. Check out our database to see specific examples, including places that spent:
-$15k for drones
-$12k for rifle suppressors (silencers)
-$49k for body cameras & Tasers
-$51k for night vision equipment
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

2/ The database captures nearly $2.7B in settlement funds spent or committed in 2024. Just under a quarter of that went to treatment and nearly a fifth to harm reduction. Another ~$796M was set aside for future use. public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...

If you can't join, please consider checking out this free online course I helped create with experts at @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social which offers tangible tips for reporters covering suicide www.coursera.org/learn/respon...

Of course!

12/ Read more of my ongoing (more than 2 years at this point!) coverage of opioid settlement funds for
@kffhealthnews.org: kffhealthnews.org/opioid-settl...

/end

11/ “I hope this is a wake-up call for state AGs that their work on this project is not done,” said Frank Kearl, who co-led the project. “We still have time” to ensure we “spend this money in a way that actually responds to the harm that was caused.” kffhealthnews.org/news/article...