Ever walked by some newspaper boxes and noticed some aren’t filled with papers, but medicine? Chances are that medicine can help reverse an opioid overdose.
The nonprofit Harm Reduction Michigan has more than 200 of these boxes around the state. It’s one of many similar programs Michigan communities could invest in with money from opioid settlements.
The money comes from opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers who are paying tens of billions of dollars in restitution to settle lawsuits about their role in the overdose epidemic.
Michigan counties, townships and cities will split about $725 million in opioid settlement funds over 18 years, with communities harder hit by the opioid crisis receiving more money per capita.
Here in northern Michigan, Interlochen Public Radio is working to track how our communities are putting the money to use. IPR’s Michael Livingston spoke with Pamela Lynch, the director of Harm Reduction Michigan to learn more.
Listen via the audio player above.
