How Should Beverly Spend Its Opioid Settlement Funds?

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly officials are seeking input on how the city should use its portion of the $1 billion in opioid settlement funds expected to be available over the next 18 years.

The state reached a settlement that will bring about $600 million into the general fund while dispersing about $400 million across the Commonwealth's 351 cities and towns.

The funds must be earmarked toward programs that help with opioid abuse, education and access to services.

Residents are invited to fill out a survey on potential uses here.

"The city hopes to use this information to gain insight into how to utilize this funding best," officials said. " We hope to address disparities in existing services and outcomes and improve the overall health equity of those disadvantaged by race, wealth and stigma."

The Peabody Mayor's Office and City Council recently chose to allocate a large portion of that city's expected payments to the creation of a new Division of Social Services to help the residents most affected by the devastation of substance abuse and mental health struggles.

The Peabody proposal establishes the new municipal department under the guidance of the Director of Health and Human Services Director. The department will include an executive director, youth outreach coordinator, mental health abuse clinician and behavioral health nd substance abuse care coordinator, with the goal of helping residents access to support and treatment available for substance abuse and mental health care.

Peabody officials said that the city — with about 12,000 more residents than Beverly — was expected to receive about $2.7 million from the settlement over 18 years.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)