N.J. State Comptroller releases report on misused opioid settlement funds with statewide recommendations

New Jersey State Comptroller Kevin Walsh released a report on Irvington’s misuse of $632,000 in opioid settlement funds that includes statewide recommendations. More than 260 N.J. municipalities have or will receive a portion of $1.1 billion from pharmaceutical companies implicated in the opioid epidemic. That money is meant to support addiction treatment and other related resources for community members, according to the report. Settlement funds will be distributed to local governments through 2038. The report recommends the N.J. Department of Human Services to issue guidance on using the settlement money, the N.J. Legislature to fund external support to ensure compliance and to ban local government contracts with conflicts of interest, and community members to report misuse of funds. The report is available online.

From New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller.