SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is asking the South Dakota Opioid Advisory Committee to direct millions of dollars from the national opioid settlement toward strengthening addiction treatment in Sioux Falls and Rapid City rather than holding a large portion in an endowment.
At a Wednesday news conference, city leaders in South Dakota’s largest cities said the funds could be used to expand treatment options at The Link Community Triage Center in Sioux Falls and Care Campus in Rapid City.
“These funds need to be used to expand access and recovery services so those struggling with addiction have a real chance at a better life,” said Jackley. “We need to make treatment more available to citizens before their addiction ultimately leads to jail or prison.”
Currently, South Dakota’s share of opioid settlement funds is split 70% to the state and 30% to participating local governments. At the state-level, the 70% share is managed by the 22-member committee.
The committee directs where funds can be spent. At the latest committee meeting in April, the committee previously approved $5.2 million in obligations for the 2025 fiscal year would be disbursed in the following way:
- 72% – Program Sustainability Fund
- 10% – Opioid Settlement Community Grant Program
- 7% – Needs Assesment
- 7% – Overdose Follow-Up Program
- 4% – Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
- 1% – Naloxone Distribution for Businessness
- 1% – Administrative Costs
In Wednesday’s news conference, Jackley expressed concern about the amount of money being held in the Program Sustainability Fund.
“Addiction is today’s crisis; we can’t wait until tomorrow,” Jackley said.
He said while he’d prefer the committee to make this decision, he is also considering legislative action in January, when the legislative session begins.
Both Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken and Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun said addiction is driving crime, homelessness and suffering in their communities.
“We have the dollars. They aren’t helping anyone sitting in a fund,” said TenHaken.
“We don’t really have as much of a homeless issue as we have an addiction issue,” said Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun. “Substance abuse is a serious issue and a major driver of crime in our communities.”
South Dakota is currently set to receive $79 million over 18 years through settlements with pharmaceutical companies that fueled the opioid epidemic. To date, the state has collected more than $31 million, according to Jackley. The attorney general indicated there are additional settlements likely.
While no specifics were announced about how much funding would be requested for the two cities, or how exactly they’d be spent, the mayors have started to have those discussions.
TenHaken noted that adolescent addiction treatment is among the most urgent needs. Avera’s eight available beds for youth have remained full with a waiting list since the program opened.
Jackley said the proposed treatment expansions would also serve residents from surrounding cities and tribal communities.
Disclosure: Emily’s Hope is a recipient of South Dakota’s Opioid Settlement Funds for our naloxone distribution program and Post-Overdose Response Team, and several Opioid Settlement Community Grants for our curriculum.
