Hidden Opioid Cash
Louisiana Gave Sheriffs Millions In Opioid Settlement Cash And Much Of It Went Unaccounted For
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Louisiana is giving sheriffs 20% of its opioid settlement money — the biggest share to law enforcement of any state. KFF Health News tracked all 64 sheriffs' spending over five months and found that 38 spent over $8.1 million on crime-fighting gear and drug detection tools. But a review panel deemed about 66% of that spending — roughly $5.4 million — inappropriate for fighting the opioid crisis.
The problem runs deeper: 20 sheriffs refused to report their spending at all, hiding roughly $10.7 million from public view. Louisiana sheriffs answer to no one — they're elected officials with independent budgets and no requirement to disclose how they spend taxpayer money meant to battle addiction.
How Louisiana's Sheriffs Used Settlement Cash
Of the 38 sheriffs who reported spending, most bought crime-fighting equipment and drug detection products. Some funded mobile apps, addiction treatment programs inside jails, and youth education initiatives. But reviewers found little connection between these purchases and the opioid crisis. KFF Health News assembled a panel of three experts to examine each expense.
The $8.1 million in reported spending shows sheriffs treated opioid settlement funds like general police budgets. Equipment meant for any crime got priority over addiction services. Only smaller portions went to treatment and prevention — the types of programs public health experts say actually save lives from overdoses.
What Experts Say Sheriffs Should Not Buy
Six other states publish lists of 'unallowable' purchases for opioid money. These include cell phone data extraction tools and automated external defibrillators — devices rarely needed for overdose emergencies. Louisiana has no such restrictions. Without clear rules, sheriffs decide themselves what counts as opioid-related spending.
The review panel flagged purchases like these as wasteful or off-topic. Yet Louisiana law allows sheriffs to keep spending as they wish. The state provides no oversight and no mechanism to reclaim misspent funds.
The Transparency Gap Hiding Millions
Twenty sheriffs never revealed their spending. That accounts for roughly $10.7 million — about 57% of Louisiana's total sheriff share. KFF Health News reporters spent months pursuing public records requests, only to hit dead ends. Some sheriffs ignored requests. Others claimed they didn't spend the money yet.
Louisiana sheriffs face no legal duty to report their expenses to the public or to state officials. They're elected independently and control their own budgets. This structure makes them nearly impossible to hold accountable for how they spend settlement money meant to address addiction.
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