County receives funds in opioid settlement
Hawaii County will receive $489,000 in 2023 as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, followed by $110,000 annually until all funds are exhausted....
Hawaii County will receive $489,000 in 2023 as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, followed by $110,000 annually until all funds are exhausted. The funding comes from the state's $81.4 million total, which will be distributed over the next 18 years as a result of several settlements. The initial county funds will go toward setting up a detox center, expanding the mental health counseling program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and supporting the Hawaii Island Fentanyl Task Force. 'One of the things I learned as a prosecutor is that we're never going to arrest our way out of this situation,' said Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth during a press conference Thursday.