Opioid Abatement Funding

• Introduction
• Allocating Funds
• Community Input Survey
• Working Group
• Agenda & Meeting Minutes
• 5-Year Spending Plan

Introduction & Background

In response to the opioid epidemic, Massachusetts joined many other states across the country in nationwide lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies.  In July 2021, Attorney General Maura Healy announced the first of many settlements with companies like Johnson & Johnson, CVA, Teva, and Walgreens.  Massachusetts received its first financial settlement from these litigations soon after.  These settlements are intended to hold companies responsible for the role they play in the ongoing opioid crisis. For more information about the statewide opioid settlements visit the Attorney General’s website here. 

Under the State’s Agreement 40% of the abatement funds will be allocated to individual municipalities, including Revere.  Municipalities like Revere will be receiving a portion of the settlement funds over the next 17 years. 

Municipal abatement funds shall not be used to fund care reimbursed by the state, including through MassHealth and the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), although local or area agencies or programs that provide state-reimbursed services can be supported financially in other ways that help meet the needs of their participants. The settlement funds must be spent on services and initiatives across the continuum of Substance Use Disorder: Prevention; Harm Reduction; Treatment; Recovery.

For more specifics about how this money can be spent, please see here.

Allocating Funds in Revere

Revere is choosing to distribute funding through city council appropriation.  This means every time Revere wants to spend Opioid Abatement money, the City Council is required to vote. For more information on Revere’s specific allotment click here

City of Revere Opioid Settlement Funding Community Engagement Plan

The Community Input Survey has closed as of 10/1/2024.  The link below shows a PowerPoint summary of the results of the survey.

Community Survey Results

Focus Groups are running throughout October 2024 and November 2024.  The link below shows the results of the Focus Groups.

Focus Group Survey Results

Revere's Opioid Abatement Working Group

We host a monthly Opioid Abatement Working Group to help us make decisions about spending the Opioid Abatement Funds.  We are always looking for new members.  If you are interested in joining, please contact our office at 781-629-4158. 

We are specifically always looking to recruit members with lived or living experience with Opioid Use Disorder. 

Currently, our membership includes medical professionals, harm reductionists, family members that have been affected by Opioid Use Disorder, those with lived experience, and concerned community members.

Agenda & Minutes

5-Year Spending Plan

According to estimates from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Municipal Abatement Payment tool, the City of Revere is expected to receive approximately $1,215,232 over the next five years.  Our Opioid Abatement Working Group met regularly throughout 2025 to craft a 5-year spending plan that reflects the input from our Community Needs Assessment process.  This process included a city-wide survey and multiple focus groups.  The Opioid Abatement Working Group consists of individuals with lived experience, individuals that work in the substance use field and interested community members. 

We aim to spend approximately $243,000 annually, starting in Fiscal Year 26 (7/1/25 - 6/30/26) for the next five fiscal years.  After Fiscal Year 30 (7/1/29 - 6/30/30), we will evaluate our programmatic choices and develop another spending plan to reflect the circumstances that exist in Revere at that time. 

At the link below is a table that reflects our spending priorities, our specific programs within those priorities, and the amount dedicated to each program annually.  

5-Year Spending Plan Details

The SUDHI Office will present updates to City Council annually to report on expenditures, lessons learned, and updates to the plan.