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Council endorses joining additional opioid settlement distributions; administration outlines restricted uses and current spending
Summary
Lakewood will opt into a new round of national opioid settlements and keep receiving periodic distributions, the council approved Sept. 15. The city has received about $158,000 from opioid-related settlements since 2022 and spent about $40,000 on a family-support program run by consultant Jim Joyner; funds are restricted to opioid prevention,
Lakewood City Council voted Sept. 15 to participate in a new round of national opioid settlement distributions negotiated at the state level.
Director Justin Vargo and Director Mahoney explained the measure before the Committee of the Whole and full council. Director Vargo described the resolution as authorizing the administration to accept funds from additional defendants named in national class-action settlements and to sign up by the deadline for the latest round. He said the city has received approximately $158,000 since 2022 and has spent about $40,000 to date, primarily for a consultant-led family education program.
Director Berry and other staff described program activity supported by those funds. Since 2023 the city has contracted with Jim Joyner for the MeWe family education and support program, described as a 10-week curriculum for families and friends of people with substance-use disorder. Berry said the city pays roughly $300 per session and offers the program free to participants; she reported average monthly attendance of about 60 distinct individuals and a 99% positive survey response in an earlier impact study provided by the program.
Council discussed potential uses for the funds. Director Vargo said the settlement money is restricted to opioid-related purposes (treatment, prevention, support, law enforcement) and that the city has discretion within that scope, up to legal limitations. Council members suggested uses including Narcan purchases, peer-support expansions, scholarships or wraparound supports for people entering treatment, and partial salary coverage for neighborhood paramedic staff whose activities relate to opioid response. Director Vargo confirmed that city employees—including paramedics—could be funded with settlement funds if the use directly relates to opioid work.
Council voted to adopt the resolution and to authorize the mayor to sign up Lakewood for the incoming settlements, adding a set of manufacturers now included in the national agreements. The administration said additional rounds of payments could continue for many years.
Ending: The council approved participation; staff will continue to analyze programmatic options for restricted funding and report back as administration develops a spending strategy.
