Ohio foundation begins process to distribute millions in opioid settlement money

abcnews.go.com:

Ohio is ready to begin doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in opioid settlement money to community and government organizations

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is ready to begin doling out millions of dollars in opioid settlement money to community and government organizations, an influx eagerly anticipated since the first sums were secured in 2021.

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, who has been tasked with distributing over $860 million of settlements reached with drugmakers and pharmaceutical companies for their roles in the national opioid crisis, plans to release its formal request for proposals Monday.

Drugmakers, wholesalers, pharmacies and other companies have agreed to settlements over the toll of opioids that are to pay state, local and Native American tribal governments more than $50 billion. Under the agreements, most of the money is to be used to address the overdose epidemic.

The foundation will allocate up to $51 million in its 2024 grant cycle for Ohio-based non-profits, for-profits and government entities alike who are “on the frontlines of Ohio’s opioid battle.” The program is the first of its kind in the United States.

Those applying must still follow certain parameters outlined by OneOhio, including that all programs and services proposed must be “evidence-based, forward-looking strategies for prevention, treatment, (and) recovery support services.”

Eligible projects may span one, two or three years and must be regionally-focused. Registration starts Monday and applications are due by May 3.

Alisha Nelson, executive director of OneOhio, said in a press release that the foundation understands how urgent the need to disperse the settlement money is as the state continues to feel the impact of the opioid