The city of Phoenix is making plans for how to spend the several millions of dollars per year it will receive from the state’s opioid settlement funds to help curb opioid and substance abuse in the future.
Phoenix was one of 90 municipalities in the state to sign on to lawsuits against opioid makers and distributors to recoup billions in tax dollars spent dealing with the opioid crisis. The One Arizona Distribution of Opioid Settlement Funds will provide Arizona $542 million over 18 years from five different settlements. Of that funding, 56% will be dealt out to localities and 44% will stay in state funds.
Phoenix will receive $2.15 million per year through 2040 from the Distributer settlement and $1.35 million through 2031 from the Janssen settlement. Other settlements are pending so more payments may be added.
