$192 million worth of opioid settlement funds allocated to serve New Yorkers struggling with addiction

Published on October 31, 2023

Governor Hochul Opioids October 2023

ALBANY, NY- Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York has made available all the funding provided in the first year of the opioid settlement agreements.

This funding, approximately $192.8 million is supporting a variety of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives to help New Yorkers impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis.

“New York is not only leading the way in the efforts to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable, we are taking swift action to put settlement dollars to work to reverse the harm they have caused,” Governor Hochul said.

“These efforts are making a difference in communities across the state, and we are continuing to work to deliver further support and assistance so that all New Yorkers can access the services they need through a series of initiatives to address all types of behavioral health needs.”

New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James, with $192 million deposited into the settlement fund account for the first fiscal year, and is being made available and awarded in accordance with the priorities of the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board.

Preliminary data show more than 6,300 overdose deaths in New York State in 2022, with opioids involved in more than three-quarters of those deaths.

The State has taken significant steps to expand access to naloxone, including distribution by the Department of Health of more than 360,000 naloxone kits last year.