CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey announced Wednesday that future opioid‑related settlement funds will now be directed primarily to the State and local governments, giving communities greater control over how recovery dollars are spent.
Under the existing West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding, 70 percent of earlier opioid settlements were allocated to the West Virginia First Foundation, which is already managing more than $700 million for long‑term recovery initiatives. McCuskey said the Foundation now has sufficient resources to fulfill its mission, and future recoveries should be placed directly in the hands of lawmakers, mayors, and county commissioners.
Moving forward, settlement funds obtained by the State will be allocated by the Legislature, while funds obtained by local governments will be managed by local officials. McCuskey said the change will also reduce the share of recoveries paid to third parties and attorneys’ fees.
“We have made significant progress in the fight against opioid addiction in West Virginia — a testament to the great work of my predecessor, Governor Morissey, his team, and all of the men and women across the State who have committed their lives to solving this crisis,” McCuskey said. “As my team continues to aggressively pursue all who contributed to this crisis, I want to ensure that everyone fighting alongside us has the money to achieve their objectives.”
McCuskey, a former State Auditor and legislator, said he is confident state and local leaders understand the needs of their communities and will use the increased funding effectively to improve lives across West Virginia.
