Davison County has distributed just over one-third of its opioid settlement funds, with tens of thousands still unspent as local officials weigh future use. Data highlights slower spending trends across South Dakota communities.
MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Davison County continues to lag in spending opioid settlement funds, reflecting a broader statewide trend, as first reported by South Dakota News Watch, according to a Department of Social Services spending reports through the end of 2025.
South Dakota counties and cities received a portion of a nationwide opioid settlement totaling nearly $50 billion, with the state allocated just under $99 million through 2038. Of that, about $29 million is designated for local governments.
In Davison County, the total allocation stands at $199,918. As of Oct. 31, 2025, $68,245 has been distributed. Of that amount, $31,500 had been spent as of Jan. 1, 2026, leaving $36,745 unspent.
The slower pace of spending mirrors trends highlighted in the South Dakota News Watch report, which found many local governments have used less than half of their opioid settlement funds. Some counties have yet to report any spending at all.
State officials have emphasized that local governments control how and when funds are used, within guidelines set by the South Dakota Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Agreement.
Experts say rural counties like Davison face challenges in determining how best to allocate funds, often due to limited resources and uncertainty about long-term funding levels. Suggested uses include addiction treatment programs, law enforcement support and prevention initiatives.
Read the article from South Dakota News Watch: Some local governments waiting to spend $9.6M in opioid dollars
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact reporter/Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch: 605-531-7382/[email protected].
