Opioid Abatement Funding

• Introduction
• Allocating Funds
• Community Input Survey
• Revere's Opioid Abatement Working Group
• Agenda & Meeting Minutes

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