Carbon to get $4.5M in drug suit
Carbon County is expected to receive over $4.5 million over the next 18 years as part of a statewide opioid settlement.
On Thursday, the county commissioners ratified three settlement participation forms over the county entering into an agreement with the state concerning the allocation of the settlement.
The $26 billion national settlement calls for Cardinal, McKesson, and Amerisource Bergen, the top three pharmaceutical distributors and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and delivered opioids, to pay up to $21 billion over 18 years. Johnson & Johnson will pay up to $5 billion.
Pennsylvania could receive approximately $1 billion, which would then be distributed to counties and other entities involved.
According to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, “Money must be used to address this crisis, through treatment, and other support services for those struggling with addiction.”
Carbon County Solicitor Daniel Miscavige, outlining the distribution, said that Pennsylvania will receive 15% of the settlement; while 70% will be distributed to the counties. The remaining 15% will then be distributed to bellwethers, or counties who filed additional ligation in the matter. Carbon County is one of the bellwethers. The amount for this additional percentage that will come to Carbon County has yet to be determined.
Miscavige said that the first payment under the settlement is anticipated to begin in April 2022.
Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the board will be working closely with groups, such as Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, on using the funds.
Under the term of the settlement, counties can use the funds for opioid abatement programs such as purchasing naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses, assist medication-assisted treatment distribution or other opioid-related treatment, expand screening for pregnant and postpartum women who are uninsured or non-Medicaid eligible, expand the treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome and warm hand-off programs and recovery services, enhancing treatments for opioid use disorder, connect people who need help to resources they need, address the needs of criminal justice-involved individuals, prevent overprescribing and dispensing of opioids and more.
There is also additional litigation that involves retailers and several defendants in federal bankruptcy court that are not outlined in this settlement, Miscavige said.