McCuskey: Foundation decision may offer benefits
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West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey made an important decision earlier this week, when he announced a change in the method of distribution for any future opioid settlement money to be received by the state.
No longer will it be distributed by the purportedly private nonprofit West Virginia First Foundation. Any new money received will be handled directly by the Legislature, county commissioners and mayors -- all public entities, subject to public scrutiny.
"The Foundation, which has already begun spending the nearly $800 million it will receive from the earlier settlements, now has the necessary resources to fulfill its important mission," McCuskey said. "Now is the time to allow the State and local government to do the same."
The West Virginia First Foundation's financial report for fiscal year 2026 shows the foundation has received more than $336 million in opioid settlement funds to date, as well as more than $25 million in investment earnings. By the end of June, the foundation had distributed nearly $26 million in grants and direct funds.
The formula under which the foundation and its board have been operating for the distribution of that public money is 24.5% going to cities and counties, 3% going to the attorney general's office and 72.5% staying with the foundation.
In the foundation's June 2026 report, for the fiscal year-to-date, $1,526,743 had been spent on payroll, benefits and related costs for the small-but-no-doubt dedicated staff. In fact, total operating expenditures for the foundation for the same period were $2,611,732.
Meanwhile, McCuskey said this new distribution model will reduce the share of recoveries paid to third parties and for attorneys' fees.
"I am excited to see the thoughtful and effective ways that my friends in both local governments and the Legislature use this increased funding to better the lives of their constituents," McCuskey said.
For McCuskey, this change means more of the money owed to us because of the damage done by a host of evil actors during the height of the substance abuse epidemic will go to achieve the goals of recovery and prevention.
If the change does, indeed, reduce unnecessary spending, bring more of the process into the view of the public and go to those closest to the problem and actually able to DO something about it, it will be welcomed by others.
McCuskey and all those about to gain a new measure of control over this money MUST, however, be dedicated to using it to pull us out of the grip of a monster that is STILL killing us.