New Hampshire will receive $48 million in the latest round of disbursements from the national opioid settlement, with funds directed to cities and towns across the state to support treatment, prevention, and recovery programs aimed at addressing the substance use crisis that has devastated communities for more than a decade.
The funds are part of the multi-billion-dollar settlement reached with major pharmaceutical companies and distributors that were found to have fueled the opioid epidemic through aggressive marketing and inadequate oversight of suspicious drug orders.
“This money won’t undo the damage that’s been done, but it gives us real resources to help people who are struggling right now,” said state Attorney General John Formella. “Every dollar will go toward saving lives and rebuilding communities.”
Under the state’s distribution formula, the largest allocations go to communities with the highest rates of opioid-related harm. Manchester, which has been one of the hardest-hit cities in the state, will receive approximately $6.2 million. Nashua, Concord, and several smaller communities in the southern tier will also receive significant shares.
The funds can be used for a range of purposes defined by the settlement agreement, including expanding medication-assisted treatment programs, supporting recovery housing, training first responders in overdose reversal, funding drug courts, and implementing prevention programs in schools.
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said the city plans to direct its allocation toward expanding residential treatment capacity and supporting the city’s safe station program, which allows individuals seeking help to walk into any fire station and be connected to treatment services.
“We’ve lost too many people in this city to addiction,” Ruais said. “These funds help us scale up programs that we know work.”
Statewide, opioid-related overdose deaths have declined modestly from their peak but remain well above pre-epidemic levels. The state recorded 389 drug overdose deaths in 2025, with fentanyl involved in the vast majority of cases.
Community organizations, treatment providers, and advocacy groups have urged municipalities to use the funds strategically and transparently, with strong oversight to ensure the money reaches those who need it most.
