The Town of Lancaster, New York has received opioid settlement funds as part of nationwide legal agreements with pharmaceutical companies, drug distributors, and pharmacies that played a role in fueling the opioid epidemic.  These funds were not given without purpose. They are intended to address the damage caused by this crisis... supporting overdose prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery services, and public education. For many of us, this issue is deeply personal. If you grew up in Lancaster and have struggled with addiction... or have lost someone to it... you already know how deeply this crisis has impacted our community. Too many people we grew up with never made it to their 30s because of the opioid epidemic... Others are only here today because of lifesaving interventions like Narcan. Lancaster allegedly began receiving these funds in or around 2023. However, according to reporting by Investigative Post, the town has not spent any of the $40,000 they've recieved. If true, this is deeply concerning. This funding exists because of the lives that were lost, and the damage the opioid epedemic created to Lancaster. It was meant to help people, prevent further loss, and support recovery in our community. It should not be sitting unused while people are still struggling.

At this time, there is little to no clear, publicly accessible information explaining:

 - How much opioid settlement funding Lancaster has actually received

 - How these funds have been allocated or spent

- What specific programs or initiatives have been created

- What measurable impact, if any, these funds have had

This lack of transparency is unacceptable, especially when lives are at stake.

We, the undersigned, call on the Town of Lancaster to:

 - Publicly disclose the total amount of opioid settlement funds received since 2023 - Provide a clear, detailed breakdown of how those funds are being used

- Commit to funding evidence-based initiatives, including harm reduction, education and prevention, treatment, and recovery support

 - Ensure funds are actively used to address the opioid crisis (not left unused)

 - Provide a clear and public timeline for when these funds will be allocated and implemented

- Involve community members, public health professionals, and individuals with lived experience in decision-making

This is about accountability.

This is about transparency.

This is about saving lives.