Thread by @HappyWarriorP

fyi Colorado,

opioid money isn't going towards addiction spending,
its going into the general budget
the-journal.com/articles/plans… #opioids #colorado #government #politics #sackler #purdue #opioidcrisis

"Under the framework, 60% of Colorado’s settlement proceeds will be distributed to 19 regions of the state. Regional Governance Councils, made up of local leaders from each region, will make decisions about how to spend the money & provide reports"

there is nothing that says this money has to be spent on addiction services, NOTHING

That sweet sweet opioid litigation money is going to general budgets & pet projects,

If u are lucky, you might get a new Otter refuge

I'm assuming Colorado has otters,
if it doesn't, they should consider ameliorating that fact

"After regions, smaller local governments will receive the next biggest chunk – 20% – of the state’s settlement money under the framework. These cities, towns & counties “may opt to allocate their funds to the county or region w/ which they are associated under joint framework,”

AGs Office will put 10% of the settlement proceeds into a fund to “address issues of statewide concern related to the crisis.”

That MIGHT mean expanding the state’s addiction workforce or boosting substance use prevention efforts.

Heavy on the might

Finally, last 10%:

"10% of Colorado’s opioid settlement proceeds will go toward an infrastructure fund to build substance use treatment & recovery services in the state’s hardest-hit areas."

In other words
90% of the settlement funds don't have to be spent on addiction services

State litigation has never meant that money goes towards the issue being litigated,

Instead, goes into state's piggy bank to be used for whatever the state bureaucrats, governor, mayors & attorneys want to do
the-journal.com/articles/plans… #opioids #opioidcrisis #medtwitter #politics

Sorry guys, that isn't how this works,

Very little of this money is going to end up helping those suffering from addiction,
statnews.com/2021/08/05/use… #chronicpain #opioids #healthcare #health #finance #lawyer #ligitation #sackler #purdue #law

@threadreaderapp unroll

Even with the largest settlement in us law history, the tobacco settlement of $200 billion dollars plus, very little of it went towards fighting smoking & nicotine addictino

apnews.com/article/busine…