Mesa Plans $3 Million in Initial Opioid-Settlement Spending; $1 Million Set for Community Grants and $1 Million for Prevention Campaign

Mesa staff presented proposed uses of opioid-settlement funds at the May 29 study session, recommending an initial phase focused on prevention, public-safety support and community grants. The city has received $4.5 million to date under the statewide opioid settlements and is proposing to allocate $3 million in the near term: $1 million for a citywide education and outreach campaign focused on youth, $1 million for public-safety opioid-related initiatives, and $1 million for a community-grants program to fund nonprofit prevention, treatment and recovery services that serve Mesa residents.

Lindsay Balenke, deputy director of community services, said settlement funds flow from national settlements into Arizona, then to Maricopa County; Mesa’s share of the county distribution is 6.06…