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Opioid deaths decline as settlement funds fuel recovery efforts – Bucks Round-Up – November 11, 2026

Opioid deaths decline as settlement funds fuel recovery efforts. Bucks County has seen a substantial decline in opioid-related deaths since the height of the epidemic, with fatalities falling from a record 257 in 2020 to 139 in 2024, according to county figures. The opioid crisis began gaining momentum across the country around 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but it took several years before the growing number of overdose deaths drew widespread attention from elected officials, law enforcement, families, and community organizations. Bucks County was among the communities hit hard by the epidemic, with the highest numbers of opioid-related overdose deaths occurring between 2016 and 2021. The decline in fatalities in recent years reflects an ongoing effort to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Diane Rosati, executive director of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc., said the county has put several strategies in place to address the crisis and save lives. “It has been a significant effort in offering programs and services,” she said. “The County developed plans for prevention, treatment, and recovery support programs using opioid settlement funds.” She also pointed to the hiring of an Opioid Settlement Fund project manager to oversee the county’s substantial investment in addressing the epidemic. “It is a very significant multimillion-dollar project over many years and it’s getting the attention it needs,” Rosati said, adding that the county is also working to reduce access to opioids through drug take-back programs and public education. Those efforts include helping residents recognize the warning signs of addiction and providing opportunities to safely dispose of unused prescription medications. Funding from national opioid settlements is expected to play a major role in sustaining those initiatives. Bucks County has received $27,076,428.19 in settlement payments to date. The county is projected to receive approximately $70 million over an eighteen-year period extending through 2038. The funding includes the county’s initial $45 million share of the landmark 2022 agreement with major pharmaceutical companies, along with subsequent settlement expansions.

Bucks County, PA · 12h