Opioid settlement spending faces growing scrutiny as Pennsylvania awaits millions more

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HARRISBURG — As Pennsylvania officials continue spending millions of dollars in settlement money to fight the opioid epidemic, opportunities for the public to follow the funds and publicly weigh in increased over the past year. That’s partially due to the work of journalists and researchers.

But significant limits exist on both transparency and public participation — to the frustration of some families and others directly affected by the crisis.

There’s a lot at stake. Pennsylvania expects to receive about $2 billion over roughly two decades as a result of settlements and litigation with drug com