Opioid Settlement Funds
Background
In 2021, a $26 billion nationwide settlement was reached to resolve all opioids litigation brought by states and local political subdivisions against the three largest pharmaceutical distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen (“Distributors”), and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson (collectively, “J&J”).
The state of Michigan is slated to receive nearly $800 million over 18 years. Fifty percent of the settlement amount will be sent directly to county and local governments. The national agreement also requires significant industry changes that will help prevent this type of crisis from ever happening again.
Saginaw County receives $11,361,000 over 18 years. County Commissioners vote on spending totals for each fiscal year, with FY2025 to be approved in September. In preparation, the Opioid Funding Advisory Committee has opened up the process to receive and review proposals.
A state-subdivision agreement between the state of Michigan and local government directs how opioid settlement funds are distributed. All 83 counties in Michigan signed on to this agreement.
In 2022, additional settlements with pharmacies and manufacturers were announced, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Allergan and Teva. Sign-on for settlements with CVS, Walmart, Allergan and Teva are completed in Michigan, but payments have not yet begun. These four settlements are expected to bring in around $450 million to Michigan. The Walgreens national settlement will bring about $175 million into the state to be divided equally between state and local governments, payments have not started. The associated state-subdivision agreement outlines how funds are to be distributed. The state will also receive an additional $138 million from an additional settlement with Walgreens over 18 years.
Impact of Opioid Crisis in Saginaw County
Since 2021…
-
Saginaw County has had 250 overdose deaths (2021 – 72, 2022- 62, 2023- 67, 2024- 49) 180 (72%) were opioid related.
2024 – 49 overdose deaths – 33 were opioid related (67%) -
Among 24-34 year olds, there were 50 overdose deaths with 45 (90%) of them being opioid related.
2021- 93%
2022 – 100%
2023 – 80%
2024 – 5 (71%) -
Among 15-24 year olds, there were 9 overdose deaths with 6 (67%) being opioid related
2021 – 0%
2022 – 75%
2023 – 100%
2024 – 1 (50%) -
Among 35-45 year olds, there were 79 overdose deaths with 64 (81%) being opioid related
2021 – 81%
2022 – 80%
2023 – 83%
2024 – 11 (81%) -
81 (32%) female and 171 (68%) male overdoses were opioid related
In 2024 – 11 (22%) female and 38 (78%) male
Core Strategies
The committee placed priority on the following items as it relates to spending opioid settlement funds:
- Naloxone or other FDA-approved drug to reverse opioid overdoses
- Medication-assisted Treatment (MAT) distribution and other opioid-related treatment
- Address needs of pregnant and postpartum women
- Expanding treatment for Neonatal
- Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
- Expansion of warm hand-off programs and recovery services
- Treatment for incarcerated population
- Prevention programs
- Expanding syringe service programs
- Evidence-based data collection and research analyzing the effectiveness of the abatement strategies within the state
5 Guiding Principles
- Principle 1: Spend The Money to Save Lives
- Principle 2: Evidence Based Spending
- Principle 3: Invest in Youth
- Principle 4: Focus on Inequality
- Principle 5: Transparency
Application Process
Application Dates
FY26 – Quarter 1
Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025
- Application Due Date
December 31, 2025 at 5:00pm - Informational Webinar
October 15, 2025 from 10:00am–11:00am - Review of Applications
January 2026 - Notice of Award
February 2026
FY26 – Quarter 2
Jan 1, 2026 – Mar, 30, 2026
- Application Due Date
March 30, 2026 at 5:00pm - Informational Webinar
January 14, 2026 from 10:00am–11:00am - Review of Applications
April 2026 - Notice of Award
May 2026
FY26 – Quarter 3
April 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026
- Application Due Date
June 30, 2026 - Informational Webinar
April 15, 2026 from 10:00am –11:00am - Review of Applications
July 2026 - Notice of Award
August 2026
FY26 – Quarter 4
July 1, 2026 – September 30, 2026
- Application Due Date
September 30, 2026 at 5:00pm - Informational Webinar
July 15, 2026 from 10:00am–11:00am - Review of Applications
October 2026 - Notice of Award
November 2026
Resource Documents
Opioid Funding Advisory Committee
- Aaron Smith – Medical Director Emergency Care Center, Covenant Healthcare
- Dr. Russel Bush – Saginaw County Medical Examiner
- Dr. William Morrone – Medical Director, Recovery Pathways
- Dr. Peter B. Rose-Barry – Professor of Ethics, Saginaw Valley State University
- Elaine Dougherty – Controlled Substances and Trace Unit Supervisor, Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division
- Judge Elian Fichtner – Saginaw County District Court
- Christina Harrington – Health Officer, Saginaw County Health Department
- Jennifer Kreiner – Chief of Health Services, Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority
- Lisa Coney – Saginaw County Commissioner, District 10
- Dwayne Parker – Alpha Kappa Psi, Men’s Health 1st
- Tracy Metcalfe – Community Health Improvement Coordinator, Meeting Facilitator, Saginaw County Health Department
County of Saginaw
111 S. Michigan Ave
Saginaw, MI 48602