IRON MOUNTAIN — The Michigan Association of Counties is offering advice across the state as local governments look to spend an estimated $725 million in opioid settlement funds that will be distributed over the next 18 years.

Amy Dolinky, a MAC technical advisor for opioid settlement planning, met this week with commissioners from Iron and Dickinson counties to field questions. Dickinson County’s share is roughly estimated at nearly $1.7 million, while Iron County’s estimated amount is $740,000, according to MAC’s online Opioid Settlement Resource Center.

Total estimated funds coming to Michigan are $1.61 billion, of which the state will keep $887 million. Of the local share, 15% will be available for unrestricted spending, while the remainder should be for approved uses, Dolinky said.

Much of the dialogue with commissioners Monday concerned the determination of what’s allowable spending, as there is no standardized guidance or suggested uses specific to Michigan.

Dolinky emphasized that funds can’t simply be directed to law enforcement budgets, as the goal is to avoid “punitive and coercive” measures related to substance abuse.

General spending principles outlined by Dolinky include —

— Spend money to save lives. Allocations should supplement rather than supplant existing funding.

— Use evidence to guide spending. Use funds on programs supported by evidence, and build data collection capacity.

— Invest in youth prevention. Make sure funds are directed to evidence-based interventions.

— Focus on racial equity.

— Develop a fair and transparent process for deciding where to spend the funding. This should include determining areas of need and receiving input from groups that touch different parts of the opioid epidemic as plans are developed.

Among the possible local programs discussed were jail-based addiction treatment, drug abuse prevention programs in schools, court-based interventions, public and private partnerships for addiction counseling and treatment and marketing campaigns to advertise public resources.

The funding is the result of offers from opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies to settle various lawsuits against their companies. Some states, including Michigan, will also receive settlement funds from local pharmacies. Communities are receiving different amounts per capita, depending on a formula the state developed to measure vulnerability to the crisis.

Michigan can also expect additional funds received through companies Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt PLC and Endo, which are pursuing bankruptcy plans that include funding opioid abatement trusts.

The majority of funds received from the opioid settlements must be spent on opioid remediation, which is designed to address the misuse and abuse of opioid products; treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders; and mitigate other alleged effects of the opioid epidemic.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September 2022 signed an executive order to create the Michigan Opioids Task Force. The goal is to prevent opioid misuse, increase access to treatment and reduce harm caused by substance abuse. The epidemic has killed more than 11,000 residents since 2018, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

In Dickinson and Iron counties, information on substance use treatment services is available by contacting Northcare Network at 1-800-305-6564. A suicide and crisis line is available by calling or texting 988.

MAC’s Opioid Settlement Resource Center is at https://micounties.org/opioid-settlement-resource-center/, while the state offers information at https://www.michigan.gov/ag/initiatives/opioids.