What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the capacity of opioid settlement funds to address funding gaps for substance use disorders amidst potential federal budget reductions.

February 27, 2026

Examining the Potential Role of Opioid Settlement Funds in the Face of Impending Federal Budget Reductions for Substance Use Disorders.

Key Points

To assess the capacity of opioid settlement funds to address funding gaps for substance use disorders amidst potential federal budget reductions.
Analysis of federal substance use disorder funding levels
Comparison of funding needs against opioid settlement fund availability
Evaluation of the intended purpose of opioid settlement funds
Opioid settlement funds are insufficient to close existing funding gaps for substance use disorders.
These funds were not designed as a substitute for federal funding.
Federal budget reductions could exacerbate the challenges facing substance use disorder programs.

Abstract

Substantial gaps remain between current federal SUD funding and what opioid settlement funds can offset. Our findings underscore that opioid settlement funds are not a viable replacement for federal funding, both because they were never intended to serve this purpose, and because they are insufficient in scale.

Examining the Potential Role of Opioid Settlement Funds in the Face of Impending Federal Budget Reductions for Substance Use Disorders.

Key Points

Abstract

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