The Opioid Committee: How Price County Will Spend Its Settle

This article was originally published on May 6, 2026, before the Ad-Hoc Opioid Committee’s first meeting. It has been updated with correct figures and a link to our complete meeting report.

On May 13, 2026, the Ad-Hoc Opioid Committee held its first meeting and revealed the actual numbers behind Price County’s opioid settlement funds. Our detailed report from that meeting is now available:

Price County Has $624,000 in Opioid Settlement Money. A New Committee Decides How to Spend It.

That article covers what actually happened at the meeting — including the real dollar figures, stakeholder reports from law enforcement, healthcare, children’s services, and schools, and the specific spending priorities the committee discussed.

Correction: The Actual Numbers

Our original article cited a figure of $1.3 million in settlement funds. The actual numbers, as presented at the May 13 committee meeting, are:

$247,775 received to date (since 2022)
$624,111 projected total through 2038
Annual payments average $30,000–$39,000, with a $70,000 lump sum in the first year
After 2038, the money stops entirely

The $1.3 million figure was based on preliminary estimates that did not reflect the final settlement allocation for Price County.

Key Takeaways From the May 13 Meeting

60%+ of out-of-home placements (foster care, kinship care) are tied to parental substance use
A $150,000+ body scanner was requested for the jail to detect drugs smuggled inside
4–6 day waits in the ER for treatment placement — there is no in-patient treatment facility in Price County
25 Narcan kits were distributed in the most recent quarter
Drug treatment court was discussed as a potential use of settlement funds, based on positive results in neighboring counties
The supplanting rule means the county cannot use settlement money to replace existing spending — every dollar must fund something new

For the full report, read Price County Has $624,000 in Opioid Settlement Money.

For background on how the settlement funds flow to Wisconsin counties, see our earlier analysis: Where Did the Opioid Money Go? Tracking Price County Settlement Fund Spending.

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Sources: Price County Ad-Hoc Opioid Committee meeting recording (May 13, 2026), Price County Executive Committee meeting minutes, Wisconsin Department of Health Services opioid settlement documentation.

For more, see Price County’s self-insured health plan started the year underwater.

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Updated July 12, 2026: Committee Nears Final Allocations — $250,123 on the Table

The Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee held its third meeting on July 8, 2026, working through a detailed spreadsheet of proposed allocations that would commit nearly all of the county’s $250,123 in settlement funds. No formal votes were taken — the meeting was a planning session, with final recommendations targeted for the August 12 meeting.

Updated Total: $250,123

Two additional settlement checks ($4,000 and $8,000) have arrived since the May meeting, bringing the total received to $250,123 — up from the $247,775 reported in May. The county projects another $10,000–$12,000 per year for the next 5–10 years, and funds do not have to be spent immediately — they can be set aside and replenished annually through the Health and Human Services Board.

His House of Hope Returns with Detailed Request

Mark Distin (Board of Directors) and Robert Knack (Executive Director) returned to present a specific funding request totaling roughly $50,000 across three areas:

Security system ($10,000): Professional key-card door system with accountability tracking for resident movement — a significant upgrade from their current setup.
Transportation vehicle: A vehicle capable of transporting up to 8 men to behavioral health appointments, drug rehab programs, and other services, addressing the committee’s identified transportation gap.
Genesis Process curriculum ($10,000/year × 3 years): A nationwide, evidence-based recovery curriculum with 15–20 years of data. It provides one-on-one curriculum, program auditing, policy review, relapse handling protocols, on-site training, and 31 CEU credits for staff.

The Genesis Process has measurable results at other programs. Hope Gospel in Eau Claire saw an 18% increase in its success rate after adopting the curriculum. Other programs report striking numbers: Rockford, IL — 60% retention, 75% recovery rate; Salt Lake City — 80% recovery rate; Santa Barbara — 90% recovery rate, 60% retention. “Success” means sober one year post-graduation, not missing probation, and still connected to a support group.

Probation Gap: His House of Hope Not Approved as Housing

A revealing moment: probation does not currently approve His House of Hope as housing for probationers. The reason is unclear — possibly security-related. This creates a systemic gap: people leaving incarceration who need recovery support can’t be placed directly into the county’s only residential recovery program. Robert Knack noted that the Park Falls ER recently called about a homeless man struggling with addiction, and there was no place in the area to bring him. His House of Hope is not a homeless shelter — it requires an interview and application process.

Marshfield Park Falls: Zero Opioid Overdoses — But Meth Fills the Gap

Laurie McEwen reported via email that Marshfield Medical Clinic in Park Falls recorded zero opioid overdose presentations to the Emergency Department between July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026. However, the clinic sees more meth use and mental health concerns than opioid-specific cases. Providers recommend that settlement funds go toward recovery support: food, housing, shelter, and job security — “Folks in recovery do their best when they have stable housing and a stable income.”

Drug Court Explored But Too Expensive

The committee discussed establishing a drug court or wellness court, using Forest County’s model as a reference. Forest County’s wellness court costs approximately $800,000 ($400,000 grant + $307,295 local match, plus tribal contributions) — far beyond what Price County’s $250,123 in settlement funds could cover. The idea remains on the shelf.

Preliminary Allocation Spreadsheet

Nick Trumner (Office of Administration) presented a draft spreadsheet with proposed allocations totaling most of the $250,123. No formal votes were taken — these are discussion figures:

School speaker programs (Phillips, Park Falls, Prentice) — $5,000/school = $15,000
Substance Use Mental Health Coalition + Public Health (first 2 years) — $45,000, covering strategic plan objectives, prenatal nurse, media campaigns, prevention programs, harm reduction
His House of Hope — general operations — $25,000 (security, vehicle, program support)
Future women’s recovery program — $25,000 set aside (not spent today; reallocated if program doesn’t materialize in 2 years)
Behavioral health (drug testing supplies, AODA assessments, inpatient room/board, secure transport) — $38,500
Embrace vending machine (harm reduction supplies, temperature regulation) — $2,000/year
Advertising/outreach — $5,000
Drug screening machine — $40,000 set aside (easier to justify than a body scanner)

After accounting for all proposed programs, roughly $19,000 remained unallocated. The committee can carry funds forward — settlement money does not expire and can be set aside for multi-year use.

School District Input

Megan Enders (Prentice School District, via email) reported that opioid misuse is significantly impacting students through home instability from parental addiction — increased stress, absenteeism, behavioral challenges, and difficulty concentrating. She recommended prevention education, expanded treatment access, community resource connections, and counseling services. Jessica Fullstad (new committee member, remote) said she sees drug use impacts from both student and family sides and is interested in prevention trainings for middle and high school students.

What’s Next: August 12, 2026

The committee’s next meeting is August 12, 2026 at noon. The goal: finalize funding recommendations. The HHS Board meets the same day at 4:00 PM (moved to afternoon), with public participation at 5:00 PM. From there, recommendations go to the full County Board for approval.

Action items before August 12: contact Mark Distin about program expansion questions, reach out to the women’s facility about potential programming, connect with Embrace about the vending machine, and refine all dollar amounts.

Reported from the July 8, 2026 Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee meeting recording. No formal funding votes were taken — all figures are proposals subject to change at the August 12 meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much opioid settlement money did Price County receive?

As of July 2026, Price County has received $250,123 in opioid settlement payments since 2022. The projected total through 2038 is $624,111. Annual payments average $10,000–$12,000, with a $70,000 lump sum received in 2022.

How is Price County spending its opioid settlement funds?

The Ad-Hoc Opioid Committee held its first meeting on May 13, 2026 to begin allocating funds. Priorities discussed include a jail body scanner ($150,000+), drug treatment court, Narcan distribution, and children’s services for substance-affected families. Funds cannot be used to replace existing spending (the “supplanting rule”).

Who oversees opioid settlement spending in Price County?

The Ad-Hoc Opioid Committee, chaired by HHS Board chair Paula Hodk with vice chair Tiffany Pichek, makes spending recommendations to the Health and Human Services Board, which then sends proposals to the full county board for approval.

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