Will Massachusetts families receive money from opioid settlements?

Yes, Massachusetts is establishing a fund to provide financial relief for families of overdose victims using settlement money.

What will the new fund in Massachusetts cover for overdose victims' families?

The fund will cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and other costs for families impacted by overdose deaths.

Why are Massachusetts families struggling to pay for funerals after overdoses?

Many families exhaust their savings on addiction treatment, leaving them with no funds for burial or cremation costs.

Home / Health / MA Eyes Fund for Overdose Victim Families Amidst Settlement Woes

MA Eyes Fund for Overdose Victim Families Amidst Settlement Woes

9 Jan

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Summary

Massachusetts plans to create a fund for families of overdose victims.
Settlement funds are largely unspent, prompting calls for direct aid.
The fund will help cover funeral costs and other expenses for grieving families.

MA Eyes Fund for Overdose Victim Families Amidst Settlement Woes

Massachusetts is preparing to become one of the first states to establish a fund offering direct financial assistance to families who have lost relatives to overdoses. This initiative arises from the devastating financial strain many parents endure, often depleting savings to pay for addiction treatment and related expenses. When an overdose occurs, families are frequently left with no money for funeral services or burial plots.

A coalition of agencies will deploy $1.25 million over three years from pharmaceutical legal settlements to aid families in five hard-hit Massachusetts communities. This fund will cover funeral costs, behavioral health bills, and other expenses, also supporting grandparents raising orphaned grandchildren due to overdose deaths. The program addresses the significant amount of opioid settlement money, totaling $1 billion for Massachusetts over 18 years, that has remained largely unspent.