On May 16, 2024, Governor Kim Reynolds announced a $17.5 million investment in opioid prevention and recovery programs for Iowans impacted by the ongoing opioid epidemic. 

“I’m disappointed that a bill to spend a portion of Iowa’s opioid settlement money never reached my desk this session. As a result, $47.5 million remain unused in the fund,” said Governor Reynolds. “Since legislation was not passed, I’m leveraging federal funds to make this investment in the health and well-being of Iowans.” 

Governor Reynolds will obligate funding for some investments she proposed this legislative session:

- $500,000 to an Opioid Use Prevention Campaign conducted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to raise awareness of the dangers of opioids and prevent their use 

- $1 million to an Opioid Prescription Prevention Program to provide training and nurse-trained technical assistance to physicians in prescribing opioids to surgery patients 

- $10 million for a grant program administered by HHS and Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to provide physical infrastructure and capacity building grants to treatment and recovery providers 

- $3 million to complete the YSS Ember Recovery Campus in Cambridge, a residential addiction treatment center for teens age 12 to 18 

- $3 million for a grant program conducted by HHS and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) to build a network of available sober living environments 

Funds for the investment are provided through the American Rescue Plan of 2021.