The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is reviewing county spending reports in private.
Daniel Fishel/For Spotlight PA
Voices of the Epidemic: A Call for Transparency in Opioid Settlement Spending
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Asia Tabb
Daniel Fishel/For Spotlight PA
The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is reviewing county spending reports in private.
Aired; March 27th, 2025.
The opioid epidemic has devastated families and communities across Pennsylvania, leaving countless individuals searching for answers, accountability, and support. As the state receives billions of dollars in settlement funds from opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, the question remains: How will this money be used to address the crisis effectively?
On April 10th, Berks Community Health Center in Reading will host the next session of Voices of the Epidemic, a series of live discussions that bring together individuals affected by the opioid crisis, journalists, and advocates. The event aims to increase transparency around settlement fund allocations and empower community members to have a say in how these crucial resources are spent.
Joining the discussion will be Ed Mahon, an investigative reporter for Spotlight PA, and Kathleen Strain, Manager of Advocacy and Peer Services for the Partnership to End Addiction. Both have been deeply involved in tracking opioid settlement funds and advocating for policies that align with the needs of impacted families.
Pennsylvania is set to receive approximately $2 billion over the next 18 years from various opioid settlements. As Mahon explains, about 70% of this money is directed to the state’s 67 counties, with early decisions on spending potentially shaping the approach for years to come:
“Hundreds of millions of dollars have already poured in. What we’ve heard from folks is that these early decisions could set the tone for future years.” – Ed Mahon, Spotlight PA
The primary guidelines for spending are outlined in a document called Exhibit E, which details approved and priority uses, including prevention, addiction treatment, syringe services, and medications for incarcerated individuals. However, the document states that spending is not limited to these categories, leading to debates over interpretation—especially concerning law enforcement expenditures.
Despite the potential for lifesaving investments, tracking how funds are spent has proven challenging. The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust, which oversees the distribution of funds, is not covered under the state’s Right-to-Know law, leaving much of its decision-making process opaque. Mahon and his colleagues at Spotlight PA have worked to address this gap:
“We filed Right-to-Know requests with all 67 counties to obtain their spending reports and then published them online so the public, journalists, and advocates could access them.” – Ed Mahon
While some counties have been proactive, creating dashboards and hosting public forums, others provide little to no transparency, making it difficult.
For families who have lost loved ones or continue to struggle with the effects of the opioid crisis, the lack of inclusion in decision-making is frustrating. Strain emphasizes the need for family voices to be heard:
“We were the cause of getting this money—our loved ones’ deaths, our families’ struggles—but we’re left out of the conversations about how it’s spent.” – Kathleen Strain, Partnership to End Addiction
While some counties have allocated funds for family support programs, the majority of spending has not prioritized these services. Strain urges families to get involved by contacting their local drug and alcohol commissions, county commissioners, and advisory boards.
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
