NJ town reportedly blew opioid settlement money on pricey police cruisers and Flock cameras: Its a joke

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.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.“But I would hold the state accountable.We’re not auditing?”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.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.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.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.Matthew Thomas Rooney, Washington Township solicitor, blamed the prior administration for any questionable 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.“Nothing is more important to the cu...