Virginia’s Opioid Settlements
This Community Guide will describe how Virginia is spending its opioid settlements and whether Virginia is working to ensure community access to opioid settlement funds. Last revised September 1, 2024.
$987.57 million[1]
[1] Total is rounded. See The Official Opioid Settlement Tracker Tally. Accessed September 1, 2024.
State-Local Agreement (Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding); Legislation (Va. Code. Ann. Secs. 2.2-2365 through 2.2-2377); Policy (Opioid Abatement Authority “Gold Standard” Policy)
Ultimate Decisionmaker
Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (for 85% of this share, or 46.75% of VA's total funds) and local officials (for 15% of this share, or 8.25% of VA's total funds)
Local officials for cities and counties
Virginia General Assembly
Decision-making Process
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) oversees expenditures of this share consistent with allocations outlined in the state’s MOU and state law:
15% of the Fund to state agencies
35% of the Fund to Regional Efforts/Cooperative Partnerships
35% of the Fund to “unrestricted” uses
Localities decide how to the spend the 15% of this share that they receive as “OAA Distributions” (but must adhere to the OAA’s rules and comply with its monitoring)
Localities decide autonomously
The Virginia General Assembly directs spending through appropriations
Supplantation
Prohibited
Generally, not prohibited
Not prohibited
Grant Funding
Yes. See the OAA’s Grants Info page.
Up to each locality (availability and processes will vary)
No
Public Input
Yes (not required, but the OAA accepts public comments at most of its meetings)
Up to each locality (not required)
No opportunities available (not required)
Advisory Body
Yes (required). See the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA).
The OAA is not required to include member(s) with lived and/or living experience.
Up to each locality (not required)
No (not required)
Expenditures
Neither public nor intrastate reporting required (see purported availability of uses "upon request." MOU B.5(b)).
Neither public nor intrastate reporting required
Updates
For updates on the Opioid Abatement Authority share, visit its website, bookmark its News and Updates page, and subscribe to its email list.
To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county’s board of supervisors, city council, or local health department.
A single resource containing updates specific to the Commonwealth share could not be found.
Last updated