Weber County awards opioid settlement funds to local initiatives, plans to create endowment fund
Commission | Posted 10-16-2026
Weber County has most recently awarded grants from opioid settlement funds to the Weber/Davis Misdemeanor Substance Abuse Court and the School of Addiction Recovery (SOAR), with plans to create an endowment fund to accrue interest for future initiatives.
The settlement funds come from nation-wide class action lawsuits against various pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution companies.
“Weber County is committed to allocating the opioid settlement funds to evidence-based programs with lasting impacts in the fight against opioid addiction,” Gage Froerer, Weber County commissioner, said. “Opioid addiction is a problem that is not going to be solved overnight. By creating an endowment fund, the County is preserving a grant program for the future and following the model set by the state of Utah.”
The settlement funds allocated for the Weber/Davis Misdemeanor Substance Abuse Court will expand the program to strengthen treatment access, improve monitoring and accountability and support individuals with substance-use needs. It will do this through structured court supervision, treatment engagement and incentives. The settlement funds will also fund core staffing, services, training and supplies to improve participant outcomes and expand program capacity. The County has allocated $282,150 ($94,050 per year for three years) of the settlement funds for the drug treatment court.
The settlement funds allocated for SOAR will provide full-program scholarships for uninsured or low-income adults seeking treatment through SOAR’s 90-day intensive outpatient program. The program addresses substance misuse by combining therapeutic fitness, evidence-based group work, individual counseling, peer support and a structured recovery community. Five individuals will receive full scholarships, enabling access to treatment they otherwise could not afford. The County has allocated $15,000 of the settlement funds for SOAR.
On March 25, 2022, the State of Utah entered a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the terms and conditions of opioid litigation settlements with pharmaceutical supply chain participants. As part of this agreement, Weber County will receive 9.883% of the state’s county-level allocation. The settlement funds are intended strictly for opioid remediation purposes and are received by the County in increments between 2022 and 2038.
The County remains committed to utilizing the settlement funds to make a lasting impact in the fight against opioid addiction, enhance public health outcomes and support affected individuals and families throughout our community.
The County has also awarded opioid settlement funds to Weber-Morgan Health Department, Weber Human Services and Weber-Public Defender Group. More information is available at https://www.webercountyutah.gov/Transparency/.
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