Opioid Settlement Funds

Clark County in 2018 filed a lawsuit in federal court against several pharmaceutical companies that sell opioids. Clark County joined more than 400 jurisdictions nationwide seeking to hold the companies accountable for harm opioid addiction inflicted on their communities. 

Clark County is expected to receive approximately $9.7 million in settlement funds over the next 17 years. As part of the settlement, jurisdictions must establish an Opioid Abatement Council that will make decisions on awarding grants to applicants. 

On June 27, 2023, the County Council approved a sole-source contract with Carelon Behavioral Health to manage and implement the administrative requirements of the opioid settlement as set forth in the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding between Washington Municipalities.  Carelon Behavioral Health is required to establish a dashboard to provide a public space for opioid settlement data.

The Clark County Opioid Abatement Council in 2024 awarded grants to nine local organizations for a total amount of $956,889. 

Below are the grant amounts and a brief description of how they will be used. 

• Clark County Jail: $270,612; increase the number of those eligible to start new prescriptions for opioid use disorder; provide peer recovery support; coordinate care with the Jail Reentry Program
• Boys and Girls Clubs: $86,475; strengthen opioid abuse prevention strategies
• Clark County Fire Rescue: $118,423; staffing for full-time community health worker
• Couve Collective: $83,378; increase capacity by expanding existing space; invest in outreach
• Columbia River Mental Health Services: $51,493; staffing for medication assisted treatment
• ESD 112: $97,634; prevent opioid misuse in local youth
• Lifeline Connections: $113,320; jail transition services and peer counseling
• Recovery Café Clark County: $81,576; provide satellite office near VHA projects that target the houseless
• Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health: $53,975; naloxone vending machine network and youth prevention training