Opioid settlement spending shows need for more oversight, NJ advocates warn

Harm reduction advocates are calling for more oversight after new reports showed some questionable spending of opioid settlement funds.

By: Dana DiFilippo

Outlets: New Jersey Monitor

Published: October 1, 2026

Words: 1,122

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 2 days ago

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State, county, and municipal officials got more than $60 million in national opioid settlement funds over the past year that was meant to be spent to repair harms caused by the deadly overdose crisis.

Instead, it funded concerts, inflatable bounce houses, DJs, dirt bike demonstrations, police canines, ice cream, movie nights, bicycles and gym gear for cops, graduation parties, college-prep programs, vehicle wraps, attorney fees, pet sitting, fishing, summer camps, meals, and more, …

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