Mississippi’s Opioid Settlement Funds Face Accountability Challenges as Attorney General Signals Oversight Shakeup

Mississippi stands at a crossroads as Attorney General Lynn Fitch publicly acknowledges potential flaws in handling the state’s multimillion-dollar opioid settlement funds. With over 10,000 Mississippians lost to opioid overdoses since 2000, these dollars represent a vital opportunity to combat a devastating crisis. Yet, as Fitch shared with lawmakers recently, the processes overseeing how this money is distributed and tracked may not be up to the task. How Secure Is Mississippi’s Opioid Money? The Mississippi Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, led by AG Fitch, has been charged with reviewing hundreds of applications—127 so far—to allocate roughly $90 million toward addiction-related programs....