PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On Wednesday, Philadelphia officials awarded $3 million in grants to communities most impacted by the opioid crisis through the city’s Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund.
The fund uses the money paid by pharmacies to settle a lawsuit accusing them of dispensing opioids without regard for whether prescriptions were legal.
A total of 43 nonprofits in the neighborhoods most impacted by the opioid crisis will get funding. It will support their work in areas like education, therapy and other programs designed to repair the damage done by opioids.
Notably, the fund no longer supports needle exchange programs in Kensington, per a directive from Mayor Cherelle Parker. The mayor said she supports harm reduction efforts, but prefers to direct the city’s limited resources to her program of care, treatment and housing.