March 6th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Mental Health has released the state’s Third Annual Report detailing how opioid settlement funds were received and spent during the past year.
The report, released March 2, outlines expenditures connected to nationwide legal settlements involving opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies. The department serves as the lead agency responsible for tracking and reporting how those funds are used across Missouri.
Missouri law created the Opioid Addiction Treatment and Recovery Fund to hold the state’s share of settlement proceeds. The fund was established under Section 196.1050 RSMo. and is intended to support efforts related to opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the state, local governments, and national settlement administrators, recipients of opioid settlement funds must report several key details to the Missouri General Assembly each year. Those reports include the amount of settlement funds received, how the money was spent, and whether each expenditure qualifies as an approved use under settlement guidelines.
The Department of Mental Health also works with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, the Missouri Association of Counties, and the Missouri Municipal League to help ensure that reporting requirements are communicated to local governments receiving settlement funds.
State officials say the reporting system is intended to provide transparency and accountability as Missouri and its communities continue addressing the impacts of opioid addiction.
The full report and additional information about Missouri’s opioid settlement funds are available on the state’s public reporting website maintained by the Department of Mental Health.