Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine and officials from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services announced the opening of the application portal for the third distribution of opioid settlement funds. The funding will be awarded to organizations that provide critical services to combat the opioid epidemic in Suffolk County.
“The opioid epidemic has impacted families and communities across Suffolk County for far too long. These settlement funds are helping us expand access to treatment, strengthen recoveryservices, support prevention efforts, and save lives,” said Romaine. “I encourage eligible organizations to apply so we can continue investing in programs that make a real difference for Suffolk County residents.”
Beginning in 2016, Suffolk County initiated legal action against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. Suffolk County was the first municipality in New York State to file a lawsuit seeking compensation for the devastating impact of the epidemic on local communities. The county reached its first settlement in 2021, with additional settlements following in subsequent years.
“The opioid crisis is an issue that can affect anyone in our community,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. “These resources allow us to strengthen our network of providers and ensure that prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services remain available to those who need them most.” The county has already completed two rounds of funding distributions. Through those efforts, more than $57 million has been awarded to 50 organizations supporting 76 programs throughout Suffolk county. Fifty percent of the funding was directed toward treatment services, with additional investments supporting prevention, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives.
Applications will undergo a comprehensive review process and funding will be awarded to organizations that provide services related to opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Funds may not be used to reimburse prior expenses. Applications will be reviewed by the Suffolk County Opioid Settlement Fund Selection Panel, which comprises county officials and a community advocate.
The application can be found here: Suffolk County Opioid Settlement Fund (OSF) Award Application. Information about previous awards and recipients is available through the Suffolk County Opioid Settlement Fund Dashboard: https://apps2.suffolkcountyny.gov/Health/osfdb.
The application portal opens on June 1, 2026, and will remain open through July 6, 2026.
Eligible applicants must maintain a significant presence in Suffolk County and provide services to Suffolk County residents. All awarded contracts will begin on Jan. 1, 2027, with contract terms varying based on the scope of the project. Each applicant will receive written notification regarding their award status.
Testimonials from past
grant recipients
Merlisa Fairley, Chief Operating Officer, Pronto Long Island, Inc.“Support from the Suffolk County Opioid Settlement Fund has enabled Pronto to expand critical outreach and supportive services for individuals and families affected by substance use and related hardships. The funding has strengthened our ability to provide opioid education, naloxone (NARCAN®) training, wellness programming, food assistance, and other community-based services that address the social and economic challenges often associated with addiction and recovery. This investment has allowed us to reach vulnerable populations in meaningful ways while helping to build a healthier and more resilient community.”
Felicia Scocozza, LMSW, Executive Director, Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP)“Through Opioid Settlement Fund support, Riverhead CAP expanded its evidence-based ‘Too Good for Drugs’ programming to two additional elementary schools, reaching approximately 200 fourth-grade students each year. Participants demonstrated measurable improvements in their understanding of risk factors and social-emotional skills. CAP staff also became certified naloxone trainers, providing overdose prevention training and kits to 286 individuals while collecting nearly 15,000 pounds of unwanted medication through expanded take-back initiatives.
The funding also supported public awareness campaigns generating more than 1.3 million impressions and the distribution of more than 3,000 medication safety and disposal products. Overall, this investment enabled CAP to directly serve more than 2,500 additional community members who otherwise may not have been reached.”
Tina Wolf, Executive Director, Community Action for Social Justice (CASJ) “CASJ is grateful for our partnership with Suffolk County and for the support provided through the County’s Opioid Settlement Fund. This funding has become foundational to our overdose prevention and harm reduction efforts throughout Suffolk County. It has enabled us to expand operating hours, including evenings and weekends, and establish a crisis mobilization team that responds rapidly to overdose clusters with naloxone distribution and connections to care. The funding has also supported our partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office to provide overdose prevention training and naloxone to Sheriff’s deputies and individuals incarcerated in the Yaphank and Riverhead correctional facilities, populations that face an elevated risk of overdose.”
