Opioid Settlement Funds & Community Response
The opioid epidemic has taken a devastating toll on communities nationwide since the 1990s. To combat the crisis, lawsuits were filed to hold certain companies accountable.
What Settlement Funds can be used for
Per the national settlement agreement, funds may be used for:
- Prevention education and community awareness
- Treatment and recovery services
- Harm reduction (e.g., distribution of naloxone/Narcan)
- Crisis intervention and response
- Support for people with lived experience
- Workforce development for behavioral health professionals
About the Opioid Settlements and Funding
In 2021, a settlement was announced in a multi-district federal litigation against manufacturers and distributors alleging that they contributed to the national opioid crisis by ignoring the signs of opioid addition and overselling opioids. The initial settlement of $26 billion covered all states, counties and cities (if they chose to participate) to be paid to state and local governments over a 16-year period.
The City of Moreno Valley anticipates a minimum of $3.7 million over the 16-year period. Additional lawsuits and settlements may continue and lead to an increase to the projected amount of Opioid Settlement Funds allocated to the City.
More information about the opioid epidemic can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC).
Opioid Settlements Distribution and list of payments can be found at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
Funding Priorities in Moreno Valley
The City of Moreno Valley is committed to ensuring affected residents get the care that they need and building awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the help that is available.
Moreno Valley has a two-pronged approach to opioid misuse remediation.
- Provide meaningful help for Moreno Valley residents experiencing substance use disorder or are in a behavioral health crisis.
- Educate Moreno Valley residents about the dangers of opioid misuse and addiction, and how to get help for themselves, family members, friends, neighbors, or anyone needing help.
Mobile Crisis Response
The City has a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Riverside University Health System- Behavioral Health provides behavioral health triage and outreach services.
The field-based Mobile Crisis Management Teams (MCMTs) consist of Clinical Therapists, Behavioral Health Specialists, and Peer Support Specialists working collaboratively with law enforcement, emergency department personnel, and community members to divert individuals in a behavioral health crisis to the appropriate level of needed care including care for substance use disorders.
Those in crisis will be immediately connected to the RUHS system of services including warm hand-off programs and substance abused recovery services.
Prevention Initiatives
Prevention and education are critically important in addressing the opioid crisis. Here’s why:
- Opioid misuse and overdoses are preventable. Early intervention and education can help disrupt the cycle of misuse, addiction, and overdose.
- Saving lives: Education about naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, can empower individuals to respond effectively in overdose emergencies, potentially saving lives.
- Reducing stigma: Education can help dismantle the stigma associated with opioid addiction, encouraging more individuals to seek help and access treatment without fear of judgment.
- Promoting healthy choices: Education empowers individuals, especially young people, to understand the dangers of opioid misuse and develop healthy decision-making and coping skills.
- Informing communities: Public awareness campaigns, community outreach, and school-based programs increase knowledge about opioid risks, safe prescription practices, and available resources for prevention and recovery.
Moreno Valley is investing in a prevention and education strategy that may include public awareness campaigns, community outreach, and school-based programs to increase knowledge about opioid risks, safe prescription practices and available resources for recovery among other strategies.
Organizations interested in submitting a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be notified when an RFP is issued by submitting an inquiry at osfmoval@moval.org.