Indiana's Attorney General informed that all the cities, towns and counties in Indiana are now participating in the $507 million opioid settlement with major pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers.
A total of 46 states and many local governments alleged the four companies, including pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, along with manufacturer and marketer Johnson & Johnson, to acquire the settlement. The settlement is part of a $26 billion nationwide agreement where the opioid makers and distributors will pay for the opioid crisis throughout the nation.
The AG said that the settlement amount is not sufficient to compensate the families who have lost their loved ones. But it will help to prevent a future similar crisis by providing decent funds to implement prevention strategies. The important programs that would be funded by the settlement include drug task forces, regional treatment hubs, early intervention, crisis support and local law enforcement efforts.
As per the agreement, 70% of the funds would be used for opioid abatement efforts in local communities. The state and local leaders would decide about spending the amount in equal halves. The remaining 305 would also be divided equally between state and local communities so the leaders can decide the best way to spend the money.
The AG informed that the disbursement plan for the opioid settlement is executed to make sure that the local and individual communities receive maximum funding and could decide the usage of the funds.
