PA’s Opioid Trust Held Its First Public Listening Session. Critics Ask: Are They Really Listening?

Secretive board overseeing Pa.’s billion-dollar opioid response invites public to speak for 1st time

A powerful Pennsylvania board that’s responsible for distributing and overseeing opioid settlement money has heard from the public for the first time after facing criticism over secret meetings and actions that shut the public out of the process.

PA’s opioid trust held its first public listening session. Critics ask: are they really listening?

HARRISBURG — An attorney advocated for allowing opioid settlement money to be spent on public defenders. A prevention expert talked about effective strategies for deterring substance misuse in the first place, cautioning against one-time speakers at assemblies. Multiple family members who lost loved ones to a drug overdose shared their personal experiences, and some speakers criticized what they see as secrecy around funding decisions. “Here’s w…

Board overseeing Pa.’s opioid response invites public to speak

HARRISBURG — An attorney advocated for allowing opioid settlement money to be spent on public defenders.

Secretive Board Overseeing Pa.’s Billion-Dollar Opioid Response Invites Public to Speak for 1st Time

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — An attorney advocated for allowing opioid settlement money to be spent on public defenders. A prevention expert talked about effective strategies for deterring substance misuse in the first place, cautioning …