NJ State, county, and municipal officials got more than $60 million in national opioid settlement funds over the past year
Those dollars were supposed to repair harms caused by the deadly overdose crisis.
Instead, it funded concerts, inflatable bounce houses, DJs, dirt bike demonstrations, police canines, ice cream, movie nights, bicycles and gym gear for cops, graduation parties, college-prep programs, vehicle wraps, attorney fees, pet sitting, fishing, summer camps, meals, and more, according to spending reports released Thursday.
According to NJ.com report:
$2,741,270. Total amount of opioid abatement funds that Atlantic City received since distribution of opioid abatement funds began in 2022:
Atlantic City officials that decide how opioid abatement funds are used:
- Mayor: Marty Small
- Business Administrator: Anthony Swan
- Health & Human Services Director: Jarrod Barnes
- Assistant Director Director: Mona C. Tally.
Towns submitted opioid abatement report for July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
- Does Atlantic City have strategic plan regarding use of opioid funds? YES
- Can NJ State post Atlantic City strategic plan online? NO
- Number of Atlantic City training/education sessions: ZERO
- Complete risk assessment profile? NO.
- Funded new project for this year? NO.
- Full report: https://studio.advancelocal.com/embed/nj/nj-opioid-funds
NJ.com’s investigation found: Besides the Mustang, Atlantic City reported spending $137,026 on clothing, backpacks, and consulting services records show.
The shocking items N.J. towns bought with opioid ‘blood money.’ Why has the state done nothing?
What your town reported about its opioid settlement money. Search a community to read its full report.
https://studio.advancelocal.com/embed/nj/nj-opioid-funds
The 2022 Mustang was purchased with opioid settlement funds, a former assemblyman discovered, money earmarked for prevention, outreach and drug treatment for the thousands.
The money is meant for prevention, treatment, and outreach, not policing.
The long-awaited $1.1 billion windfall came from national lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, CVS, etc.
Atlantic City wasn’t the only New Jersey municipality squandering those funds on lavish expenditures and wishlist items instead of their intended purpose, according to experts.
