Opioids: Opioid Settlement Funds

How Fairfax County is Using Opioid Settlement Funds

States and localities across the country, including Fairfax County, have sued numerous organizations in the pharmaceutical supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors and pharmacy benefit managers for their role in the opioid epidemic. While many of these legal matters are pending, some have been settled and payments to states and localities (including Fairfax County) have begun. In general, these settlements require that funds are used:

  • For abatement purposes (efforts to treat, prevent or reduce opioid use disorder or the misuse of opioids, or to otherwise abate or remediate the opioid epidemic) 
  • To expand/enhance programs (cannot replace existing funding)
  • For projects led/managed by a state, county or city (funds cannot be given directly to community organizations but partnerships are encouraged)

The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) is the independent state entity guiding and overseeing Virginia’s implementation of opioid settlement funds. Like other counties and cities in Virginia, Fairfax County receives opioid settlement funds directly and also is eligible to receive funds from the OAA. 


Fairfax County’s approach to using opioid settlement funds is guided by the following principles: Fairfax County Opioid Response Plan FY 23-25

  • Align with the County’s FY 23-25 Opioid Response Plan 
  • Fill critical system gaps (i.e. youth treatment services)
  • Optimize existing programs/projects
  • Invest in system transformation
  • Balance timely use of funds with fiscal responsibility
  • Utilize evidence-based/informed approaches
  • Continue to leverage existing funding sources where possible

As of March 1, 2024, Fairfax County is using opioid settlement funds to advance a total of eight projects, including one Northern Virginia regional partnership project. As the chart below illustrates, these projects collectively reflect the multi-pronged, cross-systems approach that guides the County’s opioid response and are aligned with commonly identified community needs. These projects fully utilize the current projected funding (as of March 1, 2024) the County will receive from the opioid settlements. Additional settlements and payments are anticipated in the future, though the amount and timing is unclear.

Project chart of opioid response plan category

As required by the settlements and OAA, Fairfax County separately accounts for the different types of opioid settlement funds: Direct Distribution, Individual OAA Share/Gold Standard, and Cooperative (Competitive) Awards. The Direct Distribution funds (i.e. the funds Fairfax County receives directly) are held in the County’s Opioid Settlement Reserve in the Federal-State Grant Fund and re-allocated to opioid abatement projects upon approval by the Board of Supervisors.  


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