The Lifesaving Potential of Opioid Abatement Funds
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-15-2026
ISSN
1538-3598
Publisher
JAMA Network
Language
en-US
Abstract
US states, cities, counties, and tribes have reached $57 billion in settlements related to the opioid epidemic to be paid by manufacturers, distributors, and major retail pharmacies, such as Walmart and CVS. Although the deals were reached between 2021 and 2023, payouts will span nearly 2 decades, and recent reporting reveals how the recipients have begun spending the money as it comes in. Unfortunately, much of the spending is not for evidence-based interventions that would save lives at scale.
Recommended Citation
Julia S. Etkin & Christopher Robertson,
The Lifesaving Potential of Opioid Abatement Funds
,
JAMA
(2026).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/4185
