Opioid settlement money for Pennsylvania totals more than $1 billion - Axios PhiladelphiaLog InLog InAxios Philadelphia is an Axios company.

Opioid settlement money flows to Pennsylvania

Data: ; Chart: Tory Lysik/AxiosThe first portion of the more than $1 billion Pennsylvania is slated to receive from a major opioid settlement is flowing to counties across the state, including Philadelphia. What's happening: Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro met with Delaware and Dauphin county leaders this week to discuss how local governments will use their first allocations from the multi with Johnson & Johnson and three other drug companies."The money is here and now they can go invest it … in order to save lives," Shapiro said at a press conference yesterday.A second payment will be disbursed before the end of the year, according to the AG. Why it matters: More than of a drug overdose in 2021 — the highest number recorded since 2017. Zoom in: Philly accounted for nearly 24% of those deaths. State estimates show overdoses reached 1,240 here last year, a record.The city is getting the largest settlement payout of the state’s 67 counties: $186 million over the next 18 years. What's ahead: Philadelphia officials haven't yet laid out how they’ll spend the settlement money. But the city’s Opioid Response Unit two weeks ago outlining its strategies for the remainder of the year. Those include:Expanding education and prevention services at district and charter schools, such as training on how to spot an overdose and how to use Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug.Developing a mobile methadone program, which in several states to reach patients who can't travel for treatment.Starting a 100-day challenge in Kensington to connect unhoused people who are using opioids with shelter and treatment. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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