LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is calling on municipalities to join nationwide opioid settlements before the October 8 deadline.
Eligible governments will receive payments from a $720 million agreement addressing the opioid crisis. Michigan could receive up to $24.5 million.
The settlements involve 279 local units in Michigan. Since 2019, Nessel has focused on addressing the opioid epidemic, securing over $1.8 billion for Michigan through various settlements.
The majority of opioid settlement funds in Michigan are distributed equally between local governments and the state’s Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund. These funds have supported evidence-based strategies, such as distributing over 1.3 million naloxone kits, with nearly 34,000 reported uses to reverse overdoses and save lives. They have also aided in early detection of emerging contaminants in the drug supply and the development of data tools to guide local and statewide response efforts.
Face Addiction Now, a nonprofit in Michigan, is connecting individuals and families impacted by substance use with free programs and resources. The organization is crucial in expanding outreach, providing education, and offering peer recovery support. Community-based groups like Face Addiction Now are key to Michigan’s progress in addressing substance use issues.
In March 2024, the Attorney General launched a web page to centralize information on opioid settlements, assisting residents and local governments. The site features an opioid settlement payment estimator, searchable by settlement, municipality, and year. A public dashboard and updated web pages are also available to track fund usage and monitor progress toward statewide goals.