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The Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously to adopt a two-year funding strategy to use the money the city received from a class action lawsuit that resulted in a $10 million settlement over opioid use.
The city and many other local governments from across the country took legal action against a plethora of different drug companies and pharmacies seeking damages for the effects of the opioid crisis. These settlements have resulted in over $50 billion being awarded to governments across the country.
The city is required to use its $10 million award to address opioid addiction in the city's jurisdiction. As of July of 2025, the city has received nearly $4 million and approved a measure to create a two-year funding cycle for the money. The city will continue to receive money through the settlement until 2038.
Over the next two years, the city plans to spend 30% of the total expected amount of money from the settlements, which will total $2.9 million. Of that, 60% will go to treatment and 40% will go to prevention.
Some treatment options that may be funded from this money include buying and distributing naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, and hiring peer support specialists to help people post overdose. Another treatment option could be medication assisted treatment for those struggling to overcome addiction.
The city will hold listening sessions throughout the fall to hear public input on how to spend the money before deciding in January 2026.
As for prevention, the money may go to prevention programs in schools, trauma training and expanded screening.
During the meeting, Las Cruces Police Department community outreach coordinator Lt. Joy Wiitala said the new prevention programs in schools will be different from the old DARE program, which often got underwhelming results.
“DARE of the old days was a lot of scare tactics for a lack of a better word but this curriculum is entirely changed and it is no longer that scare tactic. It is more about teaching kids choices and responsibility and how to make healthy choices,” Wiitala said.
The Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners passed a similar measure at its August 26 board meeting.
The county unanimously approved a two-year funding cycle that will see the county spend over $4.3 million to address opioid use across the county. This money will also be split up with 60% going to treatment and 40% going to prevention efforts.
In total, the county is expecting to receive around $14.5 million from the settlement.
Both the city and the county will officially disburse the money awarded to their respective programs in January of 2026. Both the city and county are holding a community workshop on September 16.
