Michael Puskaric: Regional partnering key to ending opioid crisis

The opioid epidemic has left a trail of devastation across the United States, claiming countless lives and tearing apart communities.

In 2022 alone more than 110,000 Americans succumbed to a drug overdose with opioids accounting for nearly 70% of those deaths. Meanwhile, fentanyl and counterfeit pills continue to flood America with more than 115 million pills seized by law enforcement in the U.S. last year containing fentanyl — a figure that’s more than 2,300 times greater than 2017 levels.

In Pennsylvania this reality has unfortunately been no different, where more than 48,000 lives have been lost to drug overdoses since 2012. An inflow of resources and an all-hands regional effort will likely be necessary to end this epidemic once and for all. Fortunately, it appears to be in sight.

The Keystone State and many of its neighbors are likely to be well-equipped to confront this epidemic moving forward thanks to a landmark $26 billion settlement previously reached with several distributors and manufactures of opioids. Finalized in February 2022, more than $1 billion is earmarked for the Keystone State alone, with hundreds of millions more to go to states and localities all across the mid-Atlantic.

For states like ours that have been especially hit hard by the opioid epidemic, these settlement funds flowing into communities today have provided a lifeline and a source of hope, enabling communities to invest in crucial programs and services. This settlement also provides the support necessary to bolster hospitals, law enforcement, and first responders, potentially turning the tide in this long-fought battle. Furthermore, by working together with our regional partners, we can maximize the impact of these resources and develop a comprehensive, coordinated response to the crisis.

Unfortunately, not everyone is on board with this strategy.

Specifically, the city of Baltimore has decided to opt out of the settlement and pursue its own lawsuit. This decision to forego the immediate benefits of the settlement and litigate instead — even while the rest of the state of Maryland has joined — has left an estimated $100 million hole in regional funds available to confront the opioid crisis.

This makes for an expensive and risky gamble in pursuit of a higher payout that may be years off, at best, or at worst may never come — as evidenced by a similar legal gambit undertaken by the state of Oklahoma that failed. Not only will Baltimore’s citizens will be delayed on denied significant resources they so desperately need to combat the opioid crisis, but by going it alone on this legal strategy, Baltimore’s leadership has also undermined regional efforts to end the opioid crisis.

The fact is, the opioid epidemic knows no borders, and the actions of one municipality can have far-reaching consequences. These settlement funds provide an opportunity to invest in evidence-based solutions that have proven effective in reducing opioid abuse and saving lives. By pooling resources and expertise, states and localities can develop comprehensive programs that address the root causes of the epidemic, such as lack of access to mental health services and addiction treatment.

Regional cooperation also allows for the sharing of best practices and the development of innovative solutions that can be adapted to meet the unique needs of each community. But when a locality opts out of a collaborative effort, it can creates gaps in the overall strategy, making it more difficult for neighboring communities to effectively address the problem.

In Pennsylvania, we have seen the power of collaborative efforts firsthand in combatting the opioid crisis. Efforts between state and local entities within our borders have allowed us to make significant progress in reducing opioid-related deaths and increasing access to treatment. We must now work to replicate this success on a regional level and cannot afford to let the actions of a few rogue local governments undermine our progress.

In light of these facts, Baltimore’s leaders would be wise to reconsider their current course of action. The opioid epidemic is a complex problem that requires a coordinated, multi-faceted response and the time has come for local governments to come together and recognize that the opioid epidemic is a shared challenge that requires a shared solution. By presenting a united front, we can maximize the impact of these funds and make meaningful progress in the fight against the opioid epidemic.

Michael Puskaric previously represented District 39 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives