(WCVB Channel 5) Massachusetts State Senator John Velis is threatening to claw back opioid settlement funds if cities and towns haven’t used them.
“You have this pot of money for this issue. Spend it. Enough,” he told 5 Investigates’ Mike Beaudet, who uncovered both questionable spending and lack of spending across the state.
Since 2023, cities and towns received $115 million in these funds, but they’ve spent $19 million, less than 20% of what they’ve received. The money comes from settlements negotiated with drug companies, distributors, and retailers related to the opioid overdose crisis.
Velis is the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. He said time is up, and communities need to spend the money.
“I don’t care at this point. I want this money spent. People are dying. People are dying. People are sick,” Velis said.
The money is supposed to be used to address the harms caused by the opioid epidemic.
However, some towns have spent the money on vape detectors and police vehicle tinting and painting.
But Velis said he’s most troubled by the lack of spending, saying if towns don’t have a concrete plan and deadline to spend the money, “we’re going to take it back.”
“Enough’s enough. This government bureaucracy BS. There’s no place for that here. None. Fix it. Get this money out the door. Spend it on what it’s supposed to be spent for which is to help people save lives and get their lives back. Period. End of Story,” Velis said, noting that the money should be used for treatment, prevention and harm reduction.
More than one billion dollars in opioid settlement funds are coming to Massachusetts through 2038.
Cities and towns have an additional $46 million to spend just from fiscal year 2026 and 2027.