fbpx
  • Login
  • Register
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Donate
Mr. Glitterati
  • Automotive
    Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

    Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

    4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

    4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

    4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

    4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

    Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

    Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

    Mercedes-Benz Charging Network

    Mercedes-Benz to Launch Global Branded High-Power Charging Network in North America

    Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

    Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

    5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

    5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

    The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

    The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

    Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

    Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

    Trending Tags

    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Mustang
  • Business
    Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

    Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

    Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

    Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

    World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

    World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

    Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

    Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

    Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

    Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

    Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

    Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

    Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

    Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

    “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

    “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

    Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

    Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

    Trending Tags

    • Fashion
      Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

      Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

      Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

      Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

      Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

      Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

      Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

      Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

      The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

      The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

      Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

      Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

      Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

      Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

      The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

      The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

      Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

      Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

      Trending Tags

      • Food & Drink
        Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

        Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

        Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

        Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

        Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

        Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

        How the wine you choose can help you have an eco-friendly home

        How the Wine You Choose Can Help You have an Eco-Friendly Home

        Rum and Cola Holiday Ham

        Special Centerpieces for Holiday Celebrations

        ChefsGiving 2020

        This Holiday Season, How about Cooking for a Cause?

        Iced Cold Moscow Mule cocktail with lime and pomegranate

        Holiday Spirits: The Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule

        The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

        The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

        Tao Group Virtual Chef Experience

        Entertain Your Guests Virtually This Fall ?

        Trending Tags

        • Health
          More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

          More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

          California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

          California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

          Our 300th Episode!

          Our 300th Episode!

          As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

          As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

          Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

          Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

          How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

          How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

          Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

          Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

          Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

          Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

          Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

          Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

          Trending Tags

          • Lifestyle

            The History and Meaning of Memorial Day

            Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

            Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

            Values and principles, even when faced with temptations, challenges, or potential negative consequences.

            Acknowledging Racism within Familial and Social Circles: An Examination of Cognitive Dissonance and Socio-Cultural Factors

            Definition of ethics

            The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

            Sacrifice States: the US Nuclear Sponge

            woman with gun near thief at night in parking lot

            Why it’s Important to know Your 2nd Amendment Rights

            Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

            Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

            Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

            Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

            5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

            5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

            Trending Tags

            • Politics
              OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

              OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

              Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

              Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

              Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

              Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

              Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

              Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

              Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

              Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

              Definition of ethics

              The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

              Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

              Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

              Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

              Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

              Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

              Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

              Trending Tags

              • Real Estate
                Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                Trending Tags

                • More…
                  • Opinion
                  • Sports
                  • Technology
                  • Travel
                No Result
                View All Result
                • Automotive
                  Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

                  Tips for Crossing Water in Your Jeep Wrangler

                  4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

                  4 Helpful Tips for Giving Your Car a Glossy Finish

                  4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

                  4 Common Mistakes To Avoid With Car Restorations

                  Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

                  Signs That It Might Be Time To Get a New Car

                  Mercedes-Benz Charging Network

                  Mercedes-Benz to Launch Global Branded High-Power Charging Network in North America

                  Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

                  Ways To Surprise Your Partner Who Loves Cars

                  5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

                  5 Important Tips for Every New Jeep Owner

                  The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

                  The Best Ways To Increase the Value of Your Car

                  Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

                  Why Jeeps Are Awesome for Off-Roading Adventures

                  Trending Tags

                  • Mercedes-Benz
                  • Mustang
                • Business
                  Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

                  Los Angeles implemented a new tax on luxurious real estate to finance affordable housing and combat homelessness

                  Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

                  Working shorter hours: 38 companies in the USA are testing the 4-day week

                  World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

                  World’s largest trial in the UK: 86 percent want to keep 4-day week

                  Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

                  Rewarding “Good” Companies—How the Economy for the Common Good Wants to Change the World

                  Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

                  Redistributing 11 billion dollars: Colombia’s left-wing president wants to fight poverty with a wealth tax

                  Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

                  Ban or regulate: The world searches for a way to deal with cryptocurrencies

                  Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

                  Bolivia: Less poverty and booming economy through nationalisation of mineral resources

                  “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

                  “Creating Prosperity Together”: How the social economy model saved the English city of Preston

                  Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

                  Amazon continues to destroy new goods and returns 

                  Trending Tags

                  • Fashion
                    Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

                    Essential Tips for Planning a Great Fashion Show

                    Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

                    Signs That Your Tuxedo Doesn’t Fit Right

                    Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

                    Make a Bold Style Statement With These Wide-Leg Pants

                    Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

                    Power Your Winter Workouts With The Best Zip Hoodies for Men

                    The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

                    The Ultimate Watch Buying Guide

                    Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

                    Outdoor Enthusiasts, Take Note: These Watches Are as Tough as You

                    Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

                    Our 7 Favorite Field Jackets for Tackling Fall Weather

                    The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

                    The Best Leather Jackets for Guys – No Matter Your Budget

                    Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

                    Campus-Ready Backpacks for Storing *All* the Books

                    Trending Tags

                    • Food & Drink
                      Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

                      Cheese Tortellini in Creamy Marinara

                      Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

                      Unusual Products That Come From Animals and Their Uses

                      Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

                      Tips for Creating a Homemade Wine Cellar

                      How the wine you choose can help you have an eco-friendly home

                      How the Wine You Choose Can Help You have an Eco-Friendly Home

                      Rum and Cola Holiday Ham

                      Special Centerpieces for Holiday Celebrations

                      ChefsGiving 2020

                      This Holiday Season, How about Cooking for a Cause?

                      Iced Cold Moscow Mule cocktail with lime and pomegranate

                      Holiday Spirits: The Cranberry Smash Moscow Mule

                      The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

                      The Most Beautiful Liquor Bottles in the World

                      Tao Group Virtual Chef Experience

                      Entertain Your Guests Virtually This Fall ?

                      Trending Tags

                      • Health
                        More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

                        More States OK Postpartum Medicaid Coverage Beyond Two Months

                        California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

                        California Confronts the Threat of ‘Tranq’ as Overdose Crisis Rages

                        Our 300th Episode!

                        Our 300th Episode!

                        As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

                        As Medicaid Purge Begins, ‘Staggering Numbers’ of Americans Lose Coverage

                        Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

                        Health Care Coalition Jockeys Over Medi-Cal Spending, Eyes Ballot Initiative

                        How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

                        How a Medical Recoding May Limit Cancer Patients’ Options for Breast Reconstruction

                        Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

                        Cardiovascular Disease Is Primed to Kill More Older Adults, Especially Blacks and Hispanics

                        Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

                        Newsom and Democratic Lawmakers at Odds Over Billions in Health Care Funds

                        Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

                        Many People Living in the ‘Diabetes Belt’ Are Plagued With Medical Debt

                        Trending Tags

                        • Lifestyle

                          The History and Meaning of Memorial Day

                          Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

                          Ways To Make Your Partner Feel Loved and Appreciated

                          Values and principles, even when faced with temptations, challenges, or potential negative consequences.

                          Acknowledging Racism within Familial and Social Circles: An Examination of Cognitive Dissonance and Socio-Cultural Factors

                          Definition of ethics

                          The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

                          Sacrifice States: the US Nuclear Sponge

                          woman with gun near thief at night in parking lot

                          Why it’s Important to know Your 2nd Amendment Rights

                          Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

                          Tips for Growing a Fuller and Healthier Beard

                          Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

                          Fulfilling Side Hustles for Good Money in 2023

                          5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

                          5 Tips on How To Run Your First Charity Event

                          Trending Tags

                          • Politics
                            OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

                            OpenSecrets releases report on out-of-state donations’ rising role

                            Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

                            Independent Sen. Krysten Sinema continues using liberal platforms to fundraise for 2024 reelection campaign

                            Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

                            Watchdog bites Ron DeSantis for alleged “soft money” campaign finance violation

                            Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

                            Press Release: Over 30,000 White House financial disclosures to be made public in first for transparency and accountability

                            Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

                            Pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC to inherit state-level PAC war chest to support presidential run

                            Definition of ethics

                            The Interconnectedness of Racial Opinions and Ethics

                            Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

                            Spyware firm NSO Group continues lobbying efforts to resume business-as-usual in the U.S.

                            Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

                            Joe Manchin vows to block “radical climate agenda,” rakes in oil and gas industry contributions

                            Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

                            Adam Schiff heads into California’s 2024 U.S. Senate race with a sizable cash advantage

                            Trending Tags

                            • Real Estate
                              Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                              Ways To Invest in Real Estate With No Experience

                              How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                              How To Make Your Rental Property More Eco-Friendly

                              Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                              Things To Consider Before Investing in Real Estate Overseas

                              Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                              Incredible Areas in Florida To Buy a Vacation Home

                              Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                              Helpful Home Staging Tips for Virtual Tours

                              Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                              Ways To Decorate and Design a Lake House

                              Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                              Challenges To Managing a Rental Property

                              The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                              The Best Landlord: How To Show Tenants You Care

                              The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                              The Best Locations To Invest in a Second Home

                              Trending Tags

                              • More…
                                • Opinion
                                • Sports
                                • Technology
                                • Travel
                              No Result
                              View All Result
                              Mr. Glitterati
                              No Result
                              View All Result

                              Schools, Sheriffs, and Syringes: State Plans Vary for Spending $26B in Opioid Settlement Funds

                              by Staff Writer
                              November 28, 2022
                              in Health
                              Schools, Sheriffs, and Syringes: State Plans Vary for Spending $26B in Opioid Settlement Funds
                              0
                              SHARES
                              4
                              VIEWS

                              By Aneri Pattani

                              With more than 200 Americans still dying of drug overdoses each day, states are beginning the high-stakes task of deciding how to spend billions of dollars in settlement funds from opioid manufacturers and distributors. Their decisions will have real-world implications for families and communities across the country that have borne the brunt of the opioid crisis.

                              Will that massive tranche of money be used to help the people who suffered the most and for programs shown to be effective in curbing the epidemic? Or will elected officials use the money for politically infused projects that will do little to offer restitution or help those harmed?

                              Jacqueline Lewis, of Columbus, Ohio, is wondering exactly that. She lost her son this fall after his 20-year struggle with addiction.

                              After emptying her retirement account and losing her house to pay for his rehab, court fees, and debts to dealers, she’s now raising her 7-year-old granddaughter while also caring for her 95-year-old mother with dementia, on nothing more than Social Security payments.

                              When Lewis heard Ohio would receive $808 million in opioid settlement funds, she thought there’d finally be relief for thousands of families like hers.

                              She was eager to speak with members of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, which was created to oversee the distribution of most of Ohio’s funds. As they determined priorities for funding, she wanted them to consider perspectives like hers, a mother and grandmother who’d faced addiction up close and saw the need for more treatment centers, addiction education in the workplace, and funding for grandparents raising grandkids as a result of the opioid epidemic.

                              But she couldn’t find anyone to listen. At an August foundation meeting she attended, board members excused themselves to go into a private session, she said. “They just left the room and left us sitting there.” When she attended another meeting virtually, audience members weren’t allowed to “voice anything or ask questions.”

                              A local group that advocates for people affected by the opioid epidemic has expressed similar concerns and is now suing the foundation for a lack of transparency, even though few decisions about funding priorities have been made yet.

                              The strife in Ohio highlights the tensions emerging nationwide as settlement funds start flowing. The funds come from a multitude of lawsuits, most notably a $26 billion settlement resulting from more than 3,000 cities, counties, and states suing manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health for their roles in the opioid crisis. Payments from that case began this summer and will continue for 18 years, setting up what public health experts and advocates are calling an unprecedented opportunity to make progress against an epidemic that has ravaged America for three decades.

                              But, they caution, each state seems to have its own approach to these funds, including different distributions between local and state governments and various processes for spending the money. With countless individuals and groups advocating for their share of the pie — from those dealing with addiction and their families to government agencies, nonprofits, health care systems, and more — the money’s impact could depend heavily on geography and politics.

                              “It sounds like a lot of money, but it’s going to a lot of places and going to be spread out over time,” said Sara Whaley, a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who tracks state use of opioid funds. “It’s not going to magically end this crisis. But if it’s used well and used thoughtfully, there is an opportunity to make a real difference.”

                              And if not, it could be just another political boondoggle.

                              Avoiding the ‘Tobacco Nightmare’

                              The worst-case scenario, many say, is for the opioid settlement to end up like the tobacco master settlement of 1998.

                              States won $246 billion over 25 years, but less than 3% of the annual payouts are used for smoking prevention or cessation, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Most has gone toward filling budget gaps, building roads, and subsidizing tobacco farmers.

                              But there are stronger protections in place for the opioid settlement dollars, said Christine Minhee, founder of a website that tracks the funds.

                              The arrangement specifies that states must spend at least 70% of the money for opioid-related expenses in the coming years and includes a list of qualifying expenses, like expanding access to treatment and buying the overdose reversal medication naloxone. Fifteen percent of the funds can be used for administrative expenses or for governments to reimburse past opioid-related expenses. Only the remaining 15% is a free-for-all.

                              If states don’t meet those thresholds, they could face legal consequences and even see their future payouts reduced, Minhee said.

                              “The kind of tobacco nightmare stuff where only 3% of funds were spent on what they were meant for is legally and technically impossible,” she said. Though, she added, “a different nightmare is still possible.”

                              Experts tracking the funds say transparency around who receives the money and how those decisions are made is key to a successful and useful distribution of resources.

                              In Rhode Island, for instance, public comment is a regular part of opioid advisory committee hearings. In North Carolina and Colorado, online dashboards show how much money each locality is receiving and will track how it is spent.

                              But other states are struggling.

                              In Ohio, the document that creates a private foundation to oversee most of the state’s funds says that “the Foundation shall operate in a transparent manner” and that meetings and documents will be public. Yet the OneOhio Recovery Foundation has since said it is not subject to open-meetings law. It has adopted a policy that meetings can be closed if the board decides the content is “sensitive or confidential material that is not appropriate for the general public.”

                              The contradiction between the board’s actions and how it was conceived led Dennis Cauchon, president of Harm Reduction Ohio, which distributes naloxone across the state, to sue the foundation. He said he wants the public to have more say in how the funding is spent.

                              “The board members are in a closed loop, and they’re having a hard time learning what the needs are,” Cauchon said.

                              The 29-member board includes representatives of local regions, as well as appointees from the governor, state attorney general, and legislative leaders. Many are city- and county-level politicians, and one is the wife of a U.S. senator. They are not paid for this role.

                              Nathaniel Jordan, executive director of the nonprofit Columbus Kappa Foundation, which distributes naloxone to Black communities in Ohio, has raised concerns about the board’s lack of racial diversity. Since 2017, Black men have had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the state, he said, but only one board member is Black. “What gives?”

                              Kathryn Whittington, chair of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, said the board is being “very transparent in what we are doing.” The public can attend meetings in person or online. Recordings of past meetings are posted online, along with the agenda, board packet, and policies discussed — including a draft of the diversity and inclusion policy the board is considering.

                              People who want to provide input “can always reach out to me as the chair or any other board member,” said Whittington, who added that two of her children have struggled with addiction too. But the best option is to contact one of Ohio’s 19 regional boards, she said. Those groups can elevate local concerns to the foundation board.

                              “We are still at the very beginning,” Whittington emphasized. No money from the 18-year settlement has been spent yet. The board’s operational expenses — including a $10,000-per-month contract with a public relations firm — is being paid from $1 million from a previous opioid-related settlement.

                              But Lewis, the woman raising her granddaughter in Columbus, worries that the day for families to speak may never come.

                              “They keep saying it’s not ready, and before you know it, they’ll be handing out money and it’ll be too late,” she said.

                              Following the Money

                              Rhode Island is one of the states working fastest to distribute settlement dollars. Its Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which controls 80% of the funds and works with an opioid advisory committee, released a plan to use $20 million by July 2023.

                              Although the plan doesn’t specify funding for people raising grandchildren, it does allocate $900,000 to recovery supports, which will include community agencies that serve family members, the department said. The single largest allocation, $4 million, will go to school- and community-based mental health programs.

                              The investment that has sparked the most interest is $2 million for a supervised drug consumption site. Its location and opening date will be determined by organizations that respond to the state’s request for proposals, said Carrie Bridges Feliz, chair of the opioid settlement advisory committee. At a time when fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin, is infiltrating most street drugs and overdose rates are high, “we were anxious to make use of these funds.”

                              In contrast, the process of distributing settlement dollars in Louisiana has barely begun. State Attorney General Jeff Landry announced in July 2021 that Louisiana was expected to receive $325 million from the 18-year settlement but has not released any additional information. His office did not respond to repeated inquiries about the status of the funds.

                              The governor’s office and state health department said they could not answer specific questions about the funds and had not yet been contacted by the attorney general’s office, which negotiated the state’s settlement agreement. Multiple clinicians who treat substance use disorder and advocates who work with people who use drugs were similarly in the dark.

                              The state’s written plan says it will create a five-person task force to recommend how to spend the money. Kevin Cobb, president of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, said the group had appointed its representative to the task force, but he didn’t know if other members had been selected or when they would meet.

                              One decision Louisiana has made so far is to give 20% of the settlement funds directly to sheriffs — a move that has made some people nervous.

                              “This plays into an increase in support for an authoritarian response to what are public health issues,” said Nadia Eskildsen, who has worked for syringe service programs and other such groups in New Orleans.

                              She worries that money will be funneled toward increasing arrests, rather than helping people find housing, work, or health care. Meanwhile, almost 1,400 Louisiana residents died of opioid-related causes last year.

                              K.P. Gibson, the Acadia Parish sheriff who will represent the sheriffs association on the state task force, said his focus is not on punishment, but on getting people into treatment. “My jail problem will resolve itself if we resolve the problem of opioid addiction,” he said.

                              Many health and policy experts say using settlement funds to pair mental health professionals with police officers or provide medications for opioid use disorder in prisons could reduce deaths.

                              States’ choices generally reflect a range of local priorities: While Louisiana has carved out funds for law enforcement, Maine is dedicating 3% of its statewide share for special education programs in schools, and Colorado has allocated 10% to addiction infrastructure, like workforce training, telehealth expansion, and transportation to treatment.

                              Maine requires that some funds be used for special education because school districts also sued the opioid companies, said state Attorney General Aaron Frey.

                              Patricia Hopkins said she signed on to the lawsuit because she’s seen the impact of the opioid crisis on students over the past decade as superintendent of school district 11, a rural part of central Maine’s Kennebec County with 1,950 students.

                              A report compiled by her staff in 2019 showed nearly 4% of students have a parent dealing with addiction.

                              Sixty miles north, in rural Penobscot County, school district 19 social worker Meghan Baker said she knows two siblings who were home when first responders arrived to revive their parents with naloxone, and another set of siblings who lost their mother to an overdose.

                              Students who experience this trauma often become angry, act out at school, and find it difficult to trust adults. When Baker refers them to counseling services in the community, they encounter waitlists that run six months to a year.

                              “If we could hire more guidance counselors and social workers, at least we can help some of those kids during the school day,” she said.

                              It’s clear that many have high hopes for the billions of dollars in opioid settlement funds arriving over the next two decades. But they have questions too, because effectively using this large pot of money requires planning and forethought.

                              For people like Jacqueline Lewis in Ohio, whose family has lost so much to an epidemic too long ignored, progress feels slow.

                              As she tries to make do on Social Security, Lewis focuses on the positives: Her granddaughter is a happy child, and her older brother lives with them to help out. But the financial worries gnaw at her. And what if her own health falters before her granddaughter is an adult?

                              “I might be OK right now, but tomorrow, I never know,” she said.

                              KHN correspondent Rae Ellen Bichell contributed to this report.

                              This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

                              KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

                              USE OUR CONTENT

                              This story can be republished for free (details).

                              source

                              Tags: HealthcareHealthy LivingPublic Health
                              Previous Post

                              ‘An Arm and a Leg’: When Insurance Won’t Pay, Abortion Assistance Funds Step In

                              Next Post

                              Removing Barriers to Considering ESG Factors in Retirement Plan Investments

                              Next Post

                              Removing Barriers to Considering ESG Factors in Retirement Plan Investments

                              Categories

                              • Automotive
                              • Boating
                              • Business
                              • Coronavirus
                              • Entertainment
                              • Fashion
                              • Food & Drink
                              • Health
                              • Home and Garden
                              • Interview
                              • Legal
                              • Lifestyle
                              • Opinion
                              • Outdoors
                              • Politics
                              • Real Estate
                              • Sports
                              • Technology
                              • Travel

                              Contributors

                              • Grant Veil
                              • Jennifer Edwards
                              • Ron “Mr. Glitterati” Jones
                              • Steven Klimaski
                              • Staff Writers

                              User Links

                              • Login
                              • Register

                              Newsletter

                              Sign up and never miss a thing!.

                              SUBSCRIBE

                              • Contact
                              • Privacy
                              • Legal
                              • Cookies
                              • Affirm
                              • Refunds
                              • Shipping
                              • Terms
                              • Policies

                              © 2008 - 2023 Mr. Glitterati LLC - Unbiased News and Media.

                              No Result
                              View All Result
                              • Home
                              • Politics
                              • Business
                              • Entertainment
                              • Sports
                              • Fashion
                              • Lifestyle
                              • Travel
                              • Health
                              • Login
                              • Sign Up
                              • Cart

                              © 2008 - 2023 Mr. Glitterati LLC - Unbiased News and Media.

                              Welcome Back!

                              Sign In with Facebook
                              Sign In with Google
                              Sign In with Linked In
                              OR

                              Login to your account below

                              Forgotten Password? Sign Up

                              Create New Account!

                              Fill the forms below to register

                              All fields are required. Log In

                              Retrieve your password

                              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

                              Log In

                              Add New Playlist