West Virginia Launches Comprehensive Opioid Settlement Transparency Initiative

WVU, Data Driven WV to lead 18-month data assessment on how $750 million in opioid funds will be allocated

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:49pm

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West Virginia has launched a statewide effort to bring increased transparency and accountability to the allocation of nearly $750 million in opioid settlement funds. The West Virginia First Foundation has commissioned an 18-month, data-driven needs assessment called the West Virginia Wayfinder, which will be implemented through a collaboration between WVU Health Affairs Institute, the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV in the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics.

Why it matters

The opioid crisis has devastated communities across West Virginia, and this unprecedented influx of settlement funds represents a critical opportunity to address substance use disorder in a comprehensive, data-driven way. By involving local leaders and service providers, the Wayfinder initiative aims to ensure the funds are allocated effectively to support the communities and individuals most impacted.

The details

The West Virginia Wayfinder will conduct a wide-ranging evaluation of how the opioid crisis continues to affect people, families, and communities across the state, and what services are currently in place to address ongoing issues. Data will be collected through listening sessions and collaborations with local leaders in all 55 West Virginia counties. This data will then be analyzed and incorporated into a decision-making tool to guide the allocation of funds by the West Virginia First Foundation, ensuring the funding reaches the areas of greatest need as identified by local stakeholders.

  • The West Virginia Wayfinder initiative was commissioned in April 2026.
  • The data assessment and analysis is expected to take 18 months to complete.

The players

West Virginia First Foundation

A state-established nonprofit organization that will oversee the allocation of nearly $750 million in opioid settlement funds across West Virginia.

WVU Health Affairs Institute

A partner in the West Virginia Wayfinder initiative, responsible for collaborating on the data-driven needs assessment.

WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs

A partner in the West Virginia Wayfinder initiative, responsible for collaborating on the data-driven needs assessment.

Data Driven WV

A partner in the West Virginia Wayfinder initiative, responsible for leading the data collection, analysis, and development of the decision-making tool.

Joshua Meadows

The Executive Director of Data Driven WV, overseeing the organization's role in the West Virginia Wayfinder initiative.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to comprehensively study substance use disorder in West Virginia, we're going to cast a really wide net and get data from various sources.”

— Joshua Meadows, Executive Director, Data Driven WV

What’s next

The West Virginia Wayfinder initiative is expected to take 18 months to complete, with the data and analysis being used to guide the allocation of opioid settlement funds by the West Virginia First Foundation.

The takeaway

This comprehensive, data-driven approach to addressing the opioid crisis in West Virginia represents a significant opportunity to ensure the $750 million in settlement funds are allocated effectively and transparently to support the communities and individuals most impacted by the epidemic.