Michigan Opioid Settlement Funds Still Unspent in West Michigan Counties Three Years Later

Millions Meant to Battle Addiction Are Still Sitting in Bank Accounts

Almost three years after Michigan communities began receiving millions of dollars from a national opioid lawsuit settlement, some have yet to spend a dime.

A report from the Attorney General's office will offer more details this spring, but the delay has frustrated state leaders and community advocates across the state.

Michigan is set to receive at least $1.6 billion over 18 years from a national lawsuit settlement with drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies that were deemed partly responsible for the opioid crisis. The state is getting half that money, with the rest split between Michigan counties, townships and cities.

The funds began arriving in January 2023, yet experts say the sluggish pace of spending in some communities has been problematic.

"If there was some deliberative process that took three years, that's too long," said Jonathan Stoltman of the Grand Rapids-based Opioid Policy Institute. "Money needs to get out the door."

Settlement funds are meant to help mitigate the continued harm of the opioid crisis, which as recently as 2023 killed nearly 3,000 Michiganders. An estimated 80% of those deaths were opioid-related.

Overdose Deaths Still Outpace Car Crash Fatalities

Despite the crisis, some local governments are only now preparing to begin disbursing funds to community groups that help those battling addiction.

While overdose deaths declined by a third to 1,938 in 2024, the last year for which the state has complete data, the number of Michigan residents dying from drugs was still higher than the number who died in car crashes.

Grand Traverse County Still Has Millions Unspent

One community that has yet to spend any funds is Grand Traverse County, where Traverse City is located, which has about $2 million from the settlement in the bank and is expected to receive $6.2 million overall.

"It's taken time to figure out how to use the one-time funds to best address the crisis, Grand Traverse County Health Officer Mike Lahey told Bridge Michigan. "I think some localities, while appreciating the funds, were like, 'Now what?'"

Lahey said the process has moved too slowly, said Pam Lynch, of the Traverse City-based Harm Reduction Michigan. "It's been a very frustrating process for people who have been doing effective work for a long time," said Lynch. "I hear the criticism. 'What are we doing — this money should be out.'"

Lahey said a plan is now in place and a task force formed. "I hope to have requests for proposals out in May," he said.

Eaton County in Planning Stage

Eaton County is among communities yet to distribute funds. The county, which is receiving about $300,000 annually, has "developed a strategic plan and a community assessment to identify gaps in mitigation efforts," Logan Bailey, director of public and governmental affairs for the county, said in an email.

"We are still in a planning/assessing/collecting RFPs stage."

Lenawee County Considering Proposals

Officials in Lenawee County, which borders Ohio, will consider $1.25 million in proposals for its first opioid settlement spending in April, according to Community Development Coordinator Francine Zysk.

Isabella County to Spend in 2026

Isabella County, which has $1.1 million in settlement funds in the bank, expects to spend its first settlement funds in 2026.

Schoolcraft County Just Forming Committee

Meanwhile, Schoolcraft County in the Upper Peninsula is just now forming a committee to make spending recommendations.

City of Warren Had Almost $3 Million Unspent

The city of Warren had $2.9 million in opioid settlement funds in the bank as of October, and had not disbursed any.

"There are those who are anxious to push dollars out without fully considering community needs, process, best practices, or long-term impact," Mayor Lori Stone said in an October news release. "Opioid use, substance use disorder, and addiction will continuously affect our community. My goal is to find a way of generating continuous revenue that can be dedicated to addressing these ongoing needs."

Warren officials did not respond to a request for an update on opioid settlement spending.

Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission Pushes for Action

Cara Poland, chair of the Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission, which makes recommendations to the Legislature, agrees that communities should be thoughtful about how they spend settlement dollars.

But after more than three years, "planning time has been adequate," Poland told Bridge. "We should be using those funds."

State May Have More Authoritative Accounting

Michigan soon may have a more authoritative accounting of how settlement funds have been distributed.

The Michigan Department of Attorney General has asked counties, townships and cities receiving opioid settlement funds to report how they've been spent. Those findings are expected to be released this spring, according to Danny Wimmer, a spokesperson for Attorney General Dana Nessel.

40 Percent of Communities Had Not Spent Any Funds

A 2024 Bridge investigation provided the first statewide accounting of how communities were handling those funds. That investigation found that more than 40% of communities had not spent any funds, with about $90 million sitting in bank accounts.

That closely matched the findings of a survey conducted in the spring of 2025 by the Michigan Association of Counties. Of the 36 counties that responded, 40% had yet to open their checkbooks.

That was an improvement from 2024, when a similar survey found 51% hadn't spent money.

More Money on the Way

In the meantime, Michigan will continue receiving settlement funds over the next 18 years. The state is receiving half of the $1.6 billion total settlement, with the remaining funds distributed to counties, townships and cities.

The slow spending pace raises questions about how communities will address the ongoing opioid crisis with this critical funding.

"Money needs to get out the door," Stoltman said. "There are only so many chips to pass around the tab."

Related Coverage

• A steep drop in Michigan overdose deaths, thanks in part to Narcan
• How is your community spending opioid settlement money? Look it up