A Public Hearing on the $2 Billion Opioid Fund
Billions Promised, but Families Left Out
For years, Pennsylvania has been promised billions of dollars from the national opioid settlements — money meant to repair the damage caused by an epidemic that still claims nearly 5,000 lives in the state every year. But until now, many families and advocates felt shut out of the process.
The Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust, which manages the $2 billion fund, had developed a reputation for being distant and closed off, holding meetings inaccessible to the people most affected by addiction.
A First Public Listening Session
That’s why August 2025 marked such an important moment. The Trust hosted its very first public listening session, opening the floor — at least in part — to the voices of Pennsylvanians.
The gathering drew a mix of attorneys, harm reduction advocates, treatment providers, and family members who have lived through the heartbreak of overdose. Instead of debating policy or defending past decisions, the Trust sat quietly and took notes as speakers shared their experiences and concerns.
Testimonies: Urgent and Diverse Needs
The testimonies revealed just how urgent and diverse the needs are:
- Some called for stronger investment in evidence-based harm reduction efforts, pointing to programs that save lives but still struggle for funding.
- Others urged the Trust to be more transparent in how dollars are allocated, worried money would disappear into bureaucracy rather than reaching communities.
- Family members spoke with raw emotion, stressing that symbolic gestures are not enough — resources must go into treatment, prevention, and recovery supports that actually work.
- A few asked why people with lived experience aren’t sitting at the decision-making table alongside officials.
The Trust’s Response
At the end of the hearing, Trust Chair Tom VanKirk thanked the speakers and promised every comment would be taken into account. He was careful to frame the event as a listening session rather than a debate, but the symbolism wasn’t lost on the crowd.
For the first time, the board was hearing directly from the public in an official forum — and that alone felt like a step in the right direction.
Questions That Remain
Still, questions linger:
- Will this session be the first of many, or just a one-time gesture?
- Will the Trust commit to making spending more transparent, breaking down how much money goes to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery?
- Will people with lived experience of addiction be given real power in shaping policy?
High Stakes for Pennsylvania
The stakes could not be higher. Over the next two decades, Pennsylvania will receive about $2 billion from the opioid settlements. That money has the potential to transform the state’s response to addiction, building infrastructure that saves lives and supports long-term recovery. But it could also be squandered if handled without transparency or vision.
A Step Toward Transparency
The first listening session did not solve these problems, but it did set a new tone. For families who have lost loved ones, for people still fighting to stay sober, and for communities on the frontlines of the epidemic, the chance to be heard matters.
It’s a reminder that accountability isn’t just about numbers in a budget — it’s about honoring the lives behind those numbers.
Looking Forward
Whether this moment becomes a turning point or a footnote will depend on what the Trust does next. If the board follows through with continued public engagement and clear reporting, it could restore trust in the process and help Pennsylvania lead the way in using settlement dollars effectively. If not, frustration will only grow.
For now, though, the door has cracked open. And for many Pennsylvanians, that glimpse of transparency feels like a long-overdue step toward healing.
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