Swampscott Seeks Input On Spending Opioid Settlement Funds

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott residents are invited to provide their input into ways the town can spend its share of the state opioid settlement funds.

The settlement funds will be paid to cities and towns across the state over the next 17 years with money needing to be targeted toward public health, substance abuse and other social services.

Peabody, for instance, is planning to spend about $2.7 million in its expected opioid lawsuit settlements to create a new Division of Social Services to help the residents most affected by the devastation of substance abuse and mental health struggles.

Cities and towns received a portion of the settlement based on population size.

After gathering and compiling the responses from the survey, the Swampscott Health Department plans to hold a listening session/idea exchange, and also form a working group, to help the Health Department with how best to utilize these funds.

(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.)