Washington Township in New Jersey reportedly misused over $170,000 from opioid settlement funds intended for addiction programs by purchasing expensive police SUVs and surveillance cameras instead. The town claimed it spent the money on substance abuse initiatives but failed to allocate any towards drug prevention in schools as required. This misuse is part of a larger pattern statewide, where multiple towns have used at least $2.3 million of opioid settlement funds for unrelated expenses like concerts and new municipal equipment. Sandy Gibson, an addiction specialist, criticized this lack of accountability and called it "egregious."
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Washington Township, New Jersey, the town allegedly misused more than $170,000 in opioid settlement funds intended for combating drug addiction. Instead of using the money on substance abuse initiatives as planned, the township spent it on 15 Flock surveillance cameras and two new Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for its police department. Sandy Gibson, an addiction specialist at The College of New Jersey, criticized this decision, calling it “absolutely egregious.” This misuse is part of a broader issue in New Jersey, where numerous towns have reportedly squandered over $2.3 million in settlement funds on unrelated expenses such as concerts and luxury vehicles. These settlements are derived from agreements totaling more than $50 billion with pharmaceutical companies responsible for fueling the opioid crisis.
Written for “Opioid Settlement Abuse” on 2026-10-10,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.45, but all 4 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 69716: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-10
A small New Jersey town once in the throes of the opioid crisis blew through more than $170,000 in settlement funds intended to fight drug addiction — to reportedly purchase pricey police SUVs and surveillance cameras.
uncertain
town → blow → SUVs
Washington Township claimed it shelled out $170,446 on substance abuse initiatives in 2024 and 2025, but instead spent the money on 15 Flock cameras and two 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs, according to NJ.com.
“That’s absolutely egregious,” Sandy Gibson, an addiction specialist at The College of New Jersey, told the outlet.
uncertain
Gibson → claim → outlet
“But I would hold the state accountable.
asserted
state → hold → ?
We’re not auditing?”
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We → audit → ?
Local officials also failed to use any of the money on drug abuse prevention in schools, which the well-documented settlement was intended for, records show.
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records → fail → which
The spending spree is part of a troubling pattern across the Garden State, where dozens of communities burned through at least $2.3 million in opioid settlement money on lavish purchases — like concerts, branded clothing and even a muscle car, according to an NJ.com probe.
uncertain
dozens → burn → probe
Beginning in 2022, settlement funds from Big Pharma payouts — agreements totaling over $50 billion to resolve thousands of lawsuits against major companies tied to the pharmaceutical suppply chain — flowed into municipal coffers to offset the devastating toll the opioid epidemic inflicted on local communities.
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epidemic → begin → communities
The money was supposed to be used for education, prevention and treatment — but several New Jersey towns instead chose to upgraded streets, lighting and even purchased sleek new municipal gear.
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towns → suppose → gear
Matthew Thomas Rooney, Washington Township solicitor, blamed the prior administration for any questionable purchases.
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Rooney → blame → purchases
“The current administration is committed to transparency, and it will continue to review all budgeting priorities, including the best ways to help combat the opioid crisis … and will continue to work with the state on the best path forward,” Rooney told the publication in a statement.
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Rooney → commit → statement
“Nothing is more important to the current administration than keeping the people of Washington Township safe.”
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Nothing → keep → Township
Washington Township ranked among the worst 30% of New Jersey municipalities for addiction per capita during the height of the opioid crisis.
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Township → rank → crisis
In 2019, it recorded 5.78 cases per 1,000 people and 5.36 in 2021.
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it → record → 2021
Gibson was appalled at the township’s inaction.
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Gibson → appal → inaction
“I can’t see how there’s been no response or action taken to address that,” Gibson told NJ.com.
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Gibson → see → NJ.com
The township claimed it spent $134,321 on a middle school “narcotics and education” program in 2024, followed by another $36,125 in 2025 earmarked for “early prevention.”
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it → claim → prevention
“These folks … they’re responsible for our tax dollars,” said resident Joe Junfola.
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Junfola → ’re → dollars
“To the extent that they get grants, such as the opioid funds, they’re tasked with using that money responsibly.”
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they → get → money
Former Mayor Laurie Burns, a Democrat, slammed the town’s current Republican leadership for playing politics — and trying to “wash their hands” of the controversy.
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Burns → slam → controversy
“It’s a joke that the Washington Township’s Republican Mayor and Council would now try to wash their hands of decisions they made and point the finger elsewhere,” she wrote in an email.
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she → ’ → email
“They did it, and they have a responsibility to answer for it now.”
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they → do → it
The Aporia
