01. Who can participate in the Connections Recovery Program?

What does a municipality need to do to participate?

To participate in Louisiana’s opioid abatement program, a parish must receive its automatically allocated funds, adhere to approved spending categories, host public meetings, and report its expenditures to the state. Under the state’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), parishes autonomously control 80% of local settlement proceeds, while local sheriffs control the remaining 20%. Please contact Connections and we can help make sure you’re parish is compliant.

Can individuals participate?

We welcome individuals to participate in their community plan. Please contact Connections and we will make sure you are included.

02. Opioid Abatement Funds

How can my parish spend the funds?

Parish spending must be dedicated strictly to opioid remediation. While the MOU outlines broad categories, typical approved uses include:
  • Treatment: Expanding Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD/MAT) and detoxification services.
  • Harm Reduction: Distributing Naloxone (Narcan), mobile outreach, and syringe service programs.
  • Justice System Support: Funding pretrial drug testing or providing treatment to criminal justice-involved populations.
  • Recovery Support: Funding transitional housing, peer navigators, and employment training.

What is LaOTF?

The Louisiana State-Local Government Opioid Litigation Memorandum of Understanding created the Opioid Abatement Task Force to advise the Attorney General, the Sheriffs, and the Parishes and Municipalities on the priorities that should be addressed as part of the opioid epidemic and to review how monies have been spent and the results that have been achieved with Louisiana’s opioid settlement funds.