The struggle of local governments to spend their National Opioid Settlement Funds effectively is a growing point of contention across New Jersey and the United States.
The city of Elizabeth has accumulated more than $1.6 million in opioid settlement funds but left more than 90% of the money unspent, raising questions about the urgency of its response to an addiction epidemic that has devastated families and claimed thousands of lives across New Jersey.
According to the city’s latest report to the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Elizabeth received $1,615,617.72 in opioid settlement funds but had $1,459,177.97 remaining unspent and uncommitted as of June 30, 2026…