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Apply the Principles

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS

If you’re looking for specific guidance on how to incorporate the Principles, these supplemental documents can help assess your state or locality’s planning and help with spending allocation decisions.

TEN INDICATORS TO ASSESS THE READINESS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RECEIVE THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS

These Indicators can be used by policymakers and advocates to help jurisdictions assess their overall readiness and guide their next steps. The Indicators are drawn from the Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation. This document explains each of them in detail and provides specific actions jurisdictions can take in order to align with each indicator.

PRIMER ON SPENDING FUNDS FROM THE OPIOID LITIGATION: A GUIDE FOR STATE AND LOCAL DECISION MAKERS

The settlements encourage states and localities to choose projects that are part of these nine strategies, although jurisdictions are given significant discretion how they spend the funds. Want to know how jurisdictions should prioritize programs for funding? This Primer provides background information on each of the nine core abatement strategies, includes considerations for funding and implementation, and provides links to summaries of evidence-based programs in each strategy.

BREAKING DOWN THE JULY 2021 PROPOSED MULTI-DISTRICT LITIGATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

On July 21, 2021, a bipartisan group of seven state attorneys general announced a proposed settlement agreement with the three largest opioid distributors and the manufacturer Johnson & Johnson over the lawsuits filed against them regarding their role in the opioid epidemic. If states and local jurisdictions join the agreement, the settlement could provide them with up to $24 billion over the next 18 years. Explore how the agreement tracks with the Principles.

Additional Resources
The following documents or toolkits are referenced in The Principles document and may be helpful resources for state and local leaders.

Contingency Management for Treatment of Stimulant Use Disorder and Strategies to Address Polysubstance Use

The increasing use of psychostimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine), alone and together with fentanyl is viewed as the “fourth wave” of the overdose crisis. Contingency management is an essential intervention to assist individuals with stimulant use disorder.

Implementing Syringe Services Programs in Michigan

Jurisdictions that are considering using opioid litigation funds to scale up syringe services programs should apply these lessons from Michigan’s rapid expansion of syringe services programs.

Principles Coalition Announces Inaugural Winners of Award for Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles

Rock County, WI, and state of Colorado recognized for their approach to opioid litigation settlements.

Incorporating the Principles into Settlement Spending: Two Examples of Award Winning Planning

Want to see how Rock County, WI and Colorado incorporated the opioid litigation principles into their decision-making?

Big Money Means Big Decisions: Learning from the challenges some states have faced

The planning process for handling funds from the opioid litigation has been a bumpy road for some states. What can we learn from these experiences?

Reaching people where they are–using EMS to start buprenorphine

New research examines the possibility of emergency medical services (EMS) starting patients on buprenorphine without bringing them to the emergency room. Could this make sense in your state or community?

Harm Reduction 101: How States Can Use Opioid Settlement Funds to Save Lives

Unsure what the term ‘harm reduction’ means? Check out this blog post explaining what harm reduction is, the evidence supporting harm reduction’s impact, and common misconceptions.

Access to Addiction Treatment in the Omnibus and Implications for Litigation Dollars

The recent piece of omnibus legislation passed by Congress contains a number of policies that will make it easier for people with substance use disorders to access treatment. What are the implications for the opioid litigation money?

Patient Engagement with Primary Care Improves Outcomes

A recent study found that connecting people entering addiction treatment with a primary care provider improved outcomes five years later. Jurisdictions should consider approaches such as this when looking at how to invest money from the opioid litigation.

Employers Take Action to Address Opioid Use Disorder

The National Safety Council has developed a suite of programs to help employers support workers with substance use disorders. States and communities may have opportunities to partner with employers with the funds from the opioid litigation.

The Promise of Litigation Funds to Sustain and Expand Programming

Local jurisdictions face financial challenges in keeping effective programs running. The money from the opioid litigation has the potential to provide needed support to these programs for years. Read how Milwaukee is thinking about how using the funds to sustain existing programs and fill unmet needs.

Looking for ways to get involved in state and local decisions?

State and local advocates are experts in community needs; their involvement in decisions around spending the money from the opioid litigation is essential to making sure that the money will be used to save the most lives. A new guide provides information on how advocates can build on their existing work and influence the spending of the new dollars.

The Principles for Community Advocates

The original Principles were create for state and local policy makers. But the Principles can also be used to help with community level advocacy. This document, created with our partners at Vital Strategies, can help local advocacy efforts to help ensure dollars are spent to save lives.

This website provides employers with several resources offering more insight into the effects of opioid use on the workplace and how investing in care for employees can be beneficial for both workers and the company.

This federal website “provides communities, clinicians, policy-makers and others with the information and tools to incorporate evidence-based practices into their communities or clinical settings.”

Highlighted Downloads

Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation
Download
Primer on Spending Funds from the Opioid Litigation: A Guide for State and Local Decision Makers
Download
Ten Indicators to Assess the Readiness of State and Local Governments to Receive the Opioid Settlement Funds
Download