Oregon is set to receive $41 million from a national opioid settlement, which will be used for programs aimed at preventing addiction, expanding treatment options, and adding recovery community centers. This is just a portion of the nearly $600 million the state will receive over the next 18 years as part of a broader legal settlement against opioid manufacturers and distributors.
The Oregon Health Authority is currently collaborating with contract recipients to develop plans and timelines for implementing these projects. The money will fund mobile response teams, rental spaces for recovery centers, and youth-focused programs that promote awareness of the dangers of illicit drugs.
Some key allocations include:
$14 million for prevention and workforce development programs, with $9.5 million directed toward counties and nonprofits.
$13 million for recovery centers, which will provide spaces for support groups and community events, with $11.7 million going to new centers in Wasco, Curry, Douglas, Klamath, and Josephine counties.
$500,000 for Oxford House personnel costs to support recovery housing.
$14.3 million for treatment programs, which will include eight opioid treatment facilities and mobile units in various counties.
The board overseeing the distribution aims to allocate funds quickly to ensure services reach communities in need by the end of the biennium in June.