An advisory committee will explore the recommended uses for $78 million in opioid settlement funds coming to Hawaii.
Gov. David Ige (D-HI) and the mayors of all four major counties in Hawaii recently revealed the formation of the committee, according to a news release from the governor's office.
"The funding is part of nationwide settlements totaling $26 billion to resolve lawsuits against the three largest drug distributors and one of the largest drug manufacturers," the news release said. Hawaii's portion of the funds was determined by a formula that considers the state's population and the impact of the opioid crisis.
Officials from the state and each county intend to use 85% of the funds for opioid treatment, prevention, and education. The remaining 15% will be used for prevention, education, and treatment regarding other illegal drugs.
"Too many of us know children, spouses, neighbors, or colleagues who are suffering every day from the impacts of drug addiction and misuse," Ige said in the news release. "I want to thank our mayors and our community [and] health care and government stakeholders who have come together to help the people of Hawaii. Our efforts will be successful because all stakeholders are working closely together to achieve success."
Michael Victorino, mayor of Maui County, said the funding will make his community safer and healthier.
"Opiate overdoses are preventable tragedies that devastate families, friends, and the community at large," he said in the news release. "... Gov. Ige worked very closely with the county mayors to battle COVID-19, and we are working together to solve the opiate addiction crisis, too."
Mitch Roth, mayor of Hawaii County, said the funding will also aid first responders who treat people whose lives are threatened by opioids and other substances.
"Many of our first responders and local nonprofit organizations have been working in the trenches to keep our families safe and free from the adverse effects of opioids and other illicit substances," he said in the news release. "Now, we can look to amplify their efforts through this settlement."
Future settlements in ongoing opioid cases could add millions of dollars more to the state and counties’ abatement efforts, according to the news release.
"The opioid crisis in our state is very real and has ruined the lives of thousands of people,” Rick Blangiardi, mayor of Honolulu, said in the news release. "This settlement is a major step forward in helping those who battle addiction on a daily basis and will be instrumental in preventing the tragic impacts of opioid misuse."