A State Gave Sheriffs 20% of Its Opioid Settlement Cash. We Followed the Money. By Aneri Pattani Data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw and photos by Christiana Botic Aug. 27, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/public-health/louisiana-sheriffs-opioid-settlement-spending-addiction-law-enforcement/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_v6Sskww15iedyx45-LpI-FTzupoylpQGcgkWDO_aRnI4os1GsICX0taaJXTcKHOnutjE6vHin-DD1Bl1u_PnnQde6vA&_hsmi=435555472&utm_content=435555472&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: A State Gave Sheriffs 20% Of Its Opioid Settlement Cash. We Followed The Money Every state is receiving opioid settlement payouts from companies accused of flooding the nation with prescription painkillers and fueling overdose deaths. But only one state is directing 20% of those payouts to sheriffs — the largest carve-out for law enforcement nationwide. In Louisiana, sheriffs are elected, do not serve at the pleasure of another local official, and have independent budgets. They’re also not required to proactively report to the public or another authority how they spend billions in opioid settlement cash. (Pattani, 8/27)