Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel and other state officials Wednesday talked about how counties across the state could use money they are set to receive from a national $1.07 billion opioid settlement lawsuit.

Butler County is slated to receive $9.5 million over about 18 years through a settlement reached between Pennsylvania and major pharmaceutical distributors over the companies’ roles in creating and fueling the nationwide opioid crisis.

During a virtual meeting that also included Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Boozel said the money individual counties will receive from the settlement could be crucial in funding local agencies that can curb problems with drug addiction. He said he hopes to open communication with Butler County organizations to find the best use of the $9.5 million the county is supposed to receive over 18 years.

“My goal is to work with fellow commissioners but also with the criminal justice advisory board, children and youth services advisory board, and aging advisory along with our emergency service providers,” said Boozel, who is also board chairman of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. “There are so many people impacted that if we only work with a single entity, we would be siloed.”

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