Alabama Overdose Deaths Drop 30% as Settlement Funds Drive Recovery

A new report identified a 30% reduction in overdoses across Alabama. According to the analysis, the strategic use of opioid settlement funds is a driving force behind this progress. These funds are part of a series of settlements against opioid manufacturers and distributors – including the latest $220 million settlement, one of the ones that Prince Glover Hayes helped secure alongside Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. While the opioid crisis isn’t over, the settlement and efforts to combat addiction are showing progress.

The origins of Alabama’s opioid settlement fund

The opioid crisis has been raging for decades, with thousands of people losing their lives to overdoses in Alabama. In response, Prince Glover Hayes (PGH) and the Beasley Allen firm worked with Attorney General Marshall to hold companies like Cardinal Health and Cencora (AmerisourceBergen) accountable. The settlement secured hundreds of millions from opioid manufacturers and distributors. Those funds will help to support related treatment, prevention, recovery, and community education.

Putting the funds to work

The Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds is overseeing the allocation of $81 million across programs focused on prevention, treatment, and recovery. It’s also responsible for regular public reporting and sharing data through quarterly updates.

The efforts are the result of collaboration among the Alabama Department of Mental Health, the Administrative Office of Courts, and law enforcement agencies.

What’s working: Key programs and measurable outcomes

The data from the October 2025 report highlighted several successful actions that the funds are making possible, including:

• Distribution of over 88,000 Naloxone kits to first responders, which expands access to lifesaving drugs that can reverse an overdose.
• The Community Provider Grant Program funded and implemented 209 opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
• The funds enabled an expansion of the 988 Crisis Lifeline, adding staff and hours, while maintaining a 90% call-answer rate.
• The creation of specialty courts that provide treatment options as an alternative to incarceration.
• The 2024 launch of an “Opioids Take” awareness campaign that reached 1.9 million Alabamians with testimonial videos and digital ads that tell the stories of real survivors.
• Funding of 19 veteran pilot programs aimed at addressing addiction and mental health.

Importantly, the funds aren’t just working to save lives today; they’re aimed at preventing addiction in future generations. Investments into higher education institutions like the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University, and the University of South Alabama Health are aimed at combating substance abuse in the long term.

Overdoses are now down 30%

One of the biggest data points that Rep. Rex Reynolds announced at the quarterly meeting was a 30% year-over-year decline in fatal overdoses. Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger jointly praised the Commission for the impressive results.

The drastic drop in deaths represents real lives saved and families spared from tragedy. By revealing these successes, the Commission is proving that targeted, data-driven funding can yield tangible statewide outcomes.

A model for future progress

The Commission’s report showing the drastic decline in overdose deaths demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-agency collaboration. Alabama’s strategy integrates public health, law enforcement, courts, and community programs, serving as a model for other states. The investment and oversight remain critical to adapt to new challenges (like synthetic opioids and fentanyl). Regular reporting on progress helps build the public’s trust by promoting transparency from the Commission. The emphasis on transparency through quarterly review of progress and issuance of public reports is also making sure that every dollar goes toward serving its intended purpose. By pairing this legislative oversight with community input, the state is restoring faith in Alabama’s officials while building the systems that will work to prevent a relapse into a drug-related crisis.

At Prince Glover Hayes, we remain committed to accountability, justice, and community recovery. We’re proud of the part we played in this important litigation, which helped secure funds that are now actively saving lives. Our team will stand by the community as it continues to heal and recover from this crisis.

While the data helps tell the story, the real impact lies in the lives changed across Alabama. Each life that the funds save is a parent returning home, a worker rejoining their community, or a student reclaiming a future that once looked hopeless. Rural communities are now benefiting from access to recovery programs and mental health resources that previously eluded them. Families who felt isolated by stigma are now getting the support they need from new outreach and education campaigns. The collaboration between state agencies and local providers is creating a network of hope that connects hospitals, nonprofits, and community centers in ways that didn’t exist before. For Prince Glover Hayes, helping to make those connections possible is one of our proudest achievements.

To learn more about Prince Glover Hayes and our work related to the opioid epidemic and other important cases in Alabama, visit us online. If you’re injured and need an attorney ready to fight for your future, call us today or fill out our contact form.