GC4R – Appropriations of “Big 5” and Kroger Opioid Settlement Funds Must Be
Transparent, Inclusive, and Community Oriented
As Governor Brian Kemp and the General Assembly consider Budget decisions and priorities, the Georgia Council for Recovery looks forward with hope and an expectation of a transparent process to ensure that all money involving Substance Use Disorder are appropriated in a manner congruent with best practices and with direct involvement from peers with lived experience who have survived the disease of addiction and family members impacted by the Addiction Epidemic.
As the Kemp Administration and the General Assembly consider who to appropriate the 60% of the settlement funds going into the State Treasury connected to the “Big 5” and Kroger settlements, it is imperative
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that these funds go, directly, to programs addressing opioid use disorder
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that these funds be dedicated, in a manner legally appropriate, to the allowable use of funds in the settlement
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that these funds be administered by appropriate state agencies
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that these funds be appropriated to expand existing community (non governmental agency) based programs or for new opioid specific programs.
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that the decisions surrounding the appropriations of the funds be discussed in public forums – including General Assembly Committee hearings
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that peers with lived experience who have survived the disease of addiction be included to offer perspective and recommendations on the most appropriate use of these funds
“The Georgia Council for Recovery appreciates the strong support and leadership from Governor Kemp and the General Assembly for Georgians impacted by the Addiction Epidemic. The “Big 5” and Kroger settlement fund dollars are intended to correct the course of destruction caused by entities involved in the settlement. These settlement dollars are not intended to supplant the State Budget or fund government programs. Georgia was seen as a national leader in how the last round of settlement funding was disbursed. We must continue being national leaders in the disbursement of settlement funds by leading with transparency and integrity. It is essential that the public be included in the process on the appropriations of the “Big 5” and Kroger settlement funds,” said Laurisa Guerrero, Executive Director of the Georgia Council for Recovery.
“The “Big 5″ and Kroger settlement fund dollars are blood money. These dollars only exist to attempt to make right the tragic and unacceptable treatment of Georgians who suffered and died. These dollars, morally, belong to the Georgia Recovery Community. It is essential that as decisions are made on the appropriations of these dollars that both the Kemp Administration and the Georgia General Assembly include, in a transparent and professional manner, both peer and family leaders,” said Jeff Breedlove, Strategic Policy Advisor of the Georgia Council for Recovery.
