Center for Harm Reduction Receives Open Society Foundations Award

The Center for Harm Reduction has received an $85,000 award from the Open Society Foundations (OSF) to launch a multi-state evaluation examining how opioid settlement funds are allocated and implemented in New York, New Jersey, Maine and Kentucky.

The project will examine state and local approaches to opioid settlement funding, focusing on how funding decisions align with evidence-based approaches to overdose prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. The work will also support the development of an evaluation framework to track policy and funding decisions across these four states and four comparison states.

“These settlements represent an unprecedented opportunity to invest in public health and evidence-based responses to substance use disorders. Our project’s goal is to strengthen accountability to ensure these resources really do reach the communities most affected by the opioid crisis,” said Center Director Charlie Cange.

The initiative marks an important step in expanding the Center’s research and evaluation activities, creating opportunities for faculty and student engagement and supporting the development of externally funded research in drug policy, behavioral health and implementation science.