MADISON, WI — Wisconsin residents have until Sept. 30 to weigh in on how the state should spend its share of opioid settlement funds, according to the state Department of Health Services.
The agency has launched an online survey seeking public input on strategies to prevent opioid use, reduce overdose deaths, slow the spread of infectious disease, expand access to treatment and support recovery services in communities across the state.
Wisconsin expects to receive more than $874 million in opioid settlement funding between 2022 and 2038, the result of litigation against the pharmaceutical industry. DHS anticipates $11.6 million in funding next year for lifesaving strategies.
"Being able to hear from people who know best what their community needs to combat opioid use continues to be key to helping us identify priorities for this funding," said Michelle Haese, DHS Director of Substance Use Initiatives, in a statement. "We will use the feedback from the survey to determine where we need to adapt our response efforts to ensure we can continue to save more lives from the dangers of opioid misuse."
Since 2023, DHS has invested more than $86 million in opioid settlement funds on efforts that include expanding access to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, prevention education for students, mobile medication assisted treatment units, provider training and support for law enforcement.
Attorney General Kaul said public input will help guide how the money is used going forward.
"We want these funds to have as big an impact as possible in fighting the opioid epidemic," Kaul said. "Feedback from the public can help those evaluating how these can be used most effectively."
Wisconsin recorded 818 opioid overdose deaths in 2024, down from 1,422 in 2023, though 2025 figures have not yet been finalized. DHS credits the decline to a combination of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery efforts by local partners statewide.
Anyone seeking help for a substance use concern can reach the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery helpline by calling 211 or 833-944-4673, texting a ZIP code to 898211, or chatting online at addictionhelpwi.org.
The survey is open through Sept. 30.
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