Philadelphia names 27 community organizations to receive opioid settlement funds for addiction treatment and prevention efforts [WHYY]

Philly takes first steps in distributing national opioid settlement funds with $1.9 million in grants for community and grassroots organizations.

Philadelphia officials have chosen 27 community and grassroots organizations to lead addiction prevention and treatment services in areas hit hardest by the opioid epidemic.

Each organization will get grant money through the city’s Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund to expand or launch new programs on harm reduction, treatment services, education efforts, youth, homelessness support, trauma care, housing, legal aid, and more.

The awards are part of Philadelphia’s larger spending plan for its share of settlement money won in national lawsuits against major opioid manufacturers and distributors, which were accused of fueling the opioid epidemic.

“I think this project really epitomizes the city’s desire to put the dollars into the hands of affected communities and the people that know best about what their community needs,” said Joe Pyle, president of the Scattergood Foundation, which has partnered with the city to distribute settlement dollars.

To read the full story by Nicole Leonard, click here.