Media contact(s):
Mary Louise Madigan: (216) 698-2521; mlmadigan@cuyahogacounty.us

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH - Cuyahoga County is launching a new investment strategy aimed at mitigating the effects of opioid addiction.

$5 million of the County’s opioid settlement funds will be placed in a donor-advised fund at The Cleveland Foundation, for investment in innovations to prevent and reduce opioid addiction. The County’s $5 million, along with other donations and investments, will support early-stage development of innovative products and processes with potential to avoid opioid dependence.

The Opioid Innovation Fund will lean on the region’s spirit of entrepreneurship to bring forward new ways to head off addiction. The fund aims to support companies that are developing new solutions to addressing the opioid epidemic.

A group of subject matter experts will serve as an advisory board to explore innovative technologies or strategies for tackling opioid addiction and make recommendations for funding these options, while at the same time leveraging funds from other investors. The fund may also pay part of the cost for local medical institutions to test out the inventions in actual use with real patients.

The investment intends to produce new findings and learnings on what works for opioid prevention and treatment, success-based repayment to the county if these new solutions work, and the ability to focus innovation on prevention and support for specific needs, such as the Medicaid population.

“We have fought for many years to hold accountable those whose wrongful actions led to the opioid crisis,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “Most of the funds we have recovered will be used for treatment, as they should be. Our new Opioid Innovation Fund will take a small but significant part of the money we have recovered to support new approaches to preventing opioid addiction. We appreciate the Cleveland Foundation serving as our partner in this important work.”

“This seed money investment will attract matching funds to make an impact on opioid addiction,” said District 6 County Councilman Jack Schron. “We see a day when Greater Cleveland will be the opioid innovation capital, pioneering ways to help end this terrible epidemic.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to work with Cuyahoga County leaders on this important endeavor,” said Annie Rittgers, Founder of consulting firm 17A, which established the framework and advised the County on this project. “It is inspiring to see the County Executive and County Council commit to bringing such a creative approach to the challenging problem of opioid addiction. Their leadership will have an impact locally and nationally, in finding new tools to bring to the fight.” 

“Throughout our history, the Cleveland Foundation and our partners have mobilized philanthropic dollars to test new ideas and develop strategies to address complex community challenges," said Cleveland Foundation President and CEO Ronn Richard. "Today, we are proud to join Cuyahoga County leaders to launch the Opioid Innovation Fund, which will pilot creative tactics to save lives and mitigate the far-reaching impacts of the opioid crisis here in Northeast Ohio and beyond.”