Here’s how Baltimore will spend its opioid restitution funds [Video]

Baltimore leaders publicly explained on Thursday how the city intends to spend money received through opioid lawsuit settlements.Mayor Brandon Scott said the pharmaceutical companies are responsible for the opioid crisis.”These companies flooded our communities with addictive opioid pills with reckless and deadly abandon, leading to widespread misuses, addiction and, tragically, thousands upon thousands of overdose deaths,” Scott said.So, six years ago, the city declined to join a global settlement with other jurisdictions and instead opted to sue the companies on its own. To date, the city has received $242 million in restitution funds, of which $20 million will go directly to the Baltimore City Health Department.”This funding will help support things like the Spot Mobile clinic, syringe services, the Staying Alive Overdose Response Program and BMore Healthy Babies to address addiction and overdose among pregnant and postpartum women,” Scott said.The mayor also signed an executive order to establish the framework …