Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council

Mississippi has lost far too many loved ones to opioid abuse and overdose. The impact of those deaths and the countless other lives affected by opioid addiction cannot be reversed, but we can hold those responsible accountable for their part.

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office was the first state in the country to file suit against opioid manufacturers for their part in the epidemic. Since then, the Attorney General has successfully negotiated settlement agreements with over a dozen manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and marketers of opioids. Settlement payments are deposited into the Opioid Settlement Fund created by the Legislature in 2024.

In 2025, the Legislature created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council to ensure that settlement funds are allocated and spent in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreements, including abatement requirements, and to ensure public involvement, accountability, and transparency in allocating and accounting for the funds.

In 2026, the Legislature made amendments to the administration of the Opioid Settlement Fund, including authorizing the Attorney General’s Office to contract with a third-party administrator to help manage the application process as well as reporting and fund distribution for grantees. Following an RFQ process, an award was made to The Steadman Group.

The Council reviews grant applications for opioid abatement projects funded by the settlement proceeds and makes prioritized recommendations to the Legislature for the funding of such grants. To learn more about the settlement agreements, you can click here.

The 2026 grant application cycle is closed. Recommendations will be due to the Legislature by December 6, 2026.