Hawai‘i Department of Health launches website to track opioid settlement funds

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health launched a website that allows the public to track where an excess of $100 million in opioid settlement funds paid to the state by pharmaceutical companies is going.

Over the last few years, these companies entered settlement agreements with numerous plaintiff states and other claimants. The State of Hawaiʻi settled most of its legal claims against these companies and is expected to receive approximately a total of $150 million, by annual payments, through the year 2038.

Part of the settlement agreements’ terms requires the state to use the money to conduct statewide abatement and remediation from the harms illicit fentanyl, misused opioids and other substances have caused in the communities.

“Opioid addiction, substance use and overdose deaths have torn families apart, damaged relationships and devastated communities,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, director for the Department of Health. “We must dedicate available resources to healing the wounds caused by drug addiction. DOH is committed to ensuring that any funds allocated in settlements to the state through DOH will be stewarded responsibly, strategically and expeditiously.”

The new website provides the public with useful information about the Hawaiʻi Opioid Settlement Project, an initiative that was launched in 2023 by the DOH Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division to manage the opioid settlement trust fund.

In collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi Data Science Institute, ADAD has developed an interactive online platform featuring data dashboards and other resources to enhance transparency and encourage public engagement.

The OSP website, launched publicly Jan. 6, includes three primary data dashboards:

The Opioid Overdose Data Dashboard tracks key indicators of opioid-related harm, including overdose deaths and emergency department visits.

The Opioid Settlement Fund Data Dashboard details Hawaiʻi’s portion of the national settlement funds and their allocation.

The Naloxone Statewide Distributions Data Dashboard displays information on the distribution of naloxone, a lifesaving medication for opioid overdoses, provided free by the DOH at select locations across the state.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, 85% of the opioid settlement funds will be managed by the state, and 15% will be directed by Hawaiʻi’s counties. The Hawaiʻi Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee was also created to help guide the allocation process, ensuring funds are used according to the settlement agreement’s terms and conditions to address opioid-related harms effectively.

Settlement dollars are currently earmarked for critical areas, including:

• Expanding access to addiction treatment and recovery programs
• Supporting harm-reduction strategies, such as free naloxone distribution
• Enhancing prevention initiatives to reduce opioid misuse

Visit the Hawaiʻi Opioid Settlement Project and the Behavioral Health Dashboard websites for more information.