News

Maine Spent $3 Million in Opioid Settlement Money, $19 Million Unspent

Maine Spent $3 Million in Opioid Settlement Money, $19 Million Unspent

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


A new report shows Maine spent $3 million in opioid settlement funds last year.

The money comes from nationwide settlements with more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies that made or sold prescription opioids.

It’s intended to address harms caused by the opioid epidemic by supporting treatment, harm reduction, recovery, and prevention efforts.

The new data collected by the attorney general’s office and the University of Southern Maine shows more than $19 million in funds that have yet to be spent.

It shows that 29 local governments spent some funds last year, with just over 40 percent of the money going to police departments and jails.

The counties and municipalities spent the most on harm reduction and treatment efforts, while prevention programming received the least amount of funding.

The settlement money has been coming after years of lawsuits brought by dozens of states and hundreds of plaintiffs against companies such as Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, and CVS Pharmacy, contending the companies profited from misleading information about the addictive and deadly aspects of pharmaceutical opioids.

Latest Headlines

5 seconds ago in Local

Tuesday Snow Coming to Maine; Weekend Rain Trend in 2025 Not Likely This Spring

Fresh

Zehr said any accumulation would likely take place inland from Portland, especially at higher elevations. 

57 minutes ago in Local

Platner Using Trivia Games and Happy Hours in Maine Senate Campaign

Fresh

Platner is facing Gov. Janet Mills in the June 9 primary, with the winner taking on five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins,

1 hour ago in Trending, World

Artemis II astronauts race to set a new distance record from Earth and behold the moon’s far side

Fresh

With the moon looming ever larger, the Artemis II astronauts raced to set a new distance record Monday from Earth on a lunar fly-around promising magnificent views of the far side never seen before by eye.

1 hour ago in Sports, Trending

UCLA storms past South Carolina to claim its 1st NCAA women’s basketball title

Fresh

It's mission accomplished for UCLA. Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and the rest of the UCLA seniors secured the first NCAA women's basketball national championship in school history — a goal that was set after losing in the first Final Four last season.

2 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Savannah Guthrie back at ‘Today’ anchor desk for the first time since her mother’s disappearance

Fresh

Savannah Guthrie was back and almost all business at NBC's "Today" show anchor desk on Monday, marking a return for the first time in more than two months since her mother's disappearance.