The national opioid settlements are agreements designed to tackle the opioid crisis, involving roughly $50 billion expected to be distributed over 18 years. Major contributors include three leading distributors—AmerisourceBergen, McKesson, and Cardinal Health—as well as Johnson & Johnson and large pharmacy chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. These companies are held accountable due to their roles in the widespread distribution and promotion of certain opioids, greatly contributing to the epidemic. Funds are earmarked for remediation efforts across states and local governments.
The Steadman Group is a leading firm in opioid settlement governance, facilitation, and planning, staffed by individuals directly impacted by the crisis. We have successfully supported 24 counties in Colorado, North Carolina, and Kansas, earning excellent reviews and repeat contracts. Our tailored approach helps organizations progress through initial engagement of necessary stakeholders to strategic planning and program implementation. Services include assessments to inform need, best practice and evidence-based applications, and support in procurement, compliance, and sustainability. Below you can see the wide range of Colorado Counties, both urban and rural, that we have successfully supported through this work.
Our approach to opioid settlement facilitation and planning is evidence-based and realistic, emphasizing local data collection and ongoing evaluation to remain transparent and responsive to the communities involved. Through our behavioral health subject matter expertise, we ensure that any opioid settlement funding synergizes with available local, state, and federal dollars to multiply effectiveness. Excitingly, thanks in small part to our efforts, Colorado was just granted the inaugural award for Excellence in Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Despite additional safeguards built into the national agreements to avoid mirroring the failed tobacco settlement of the 90’s, the opioid settlement is still ripe for misuse. See this video by John Oliver highlighting the numerous ways in which municipalities across the country are already misusing their funds. The best way to ensure your opioid settlement efforts don’t land in John Oliver’s next segment is to intentionally involve those with firsthand experience of the opioid crisis in every step of the process. As pioneers in this field, this approach is a cornerstone of our work.
Explore effective methods for enhancing your opioid settlement initiatives by incorporating meaningful contributions from individuals with lived experience. Attend our upcoming webinar, “Involving Voices of Lived Experience in Opioid Settlement Efforts” The Steadman Group will guide you through a variety of practical strategies to authentically engage these individuals in your projects. Discover the keys to:
- Harnessing the power of recovery stories
- Meaningfully involve people who use drugs
- Manage power dynamics
- Leverage settlement dollars to pay people with lived experience
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your opioid planning processes through genuine involvement of those most impacted by the opioid epidemic to achieve remarkable results for your community.
Webinar: Friday, October 25, 2024 at 12:00 PM MST