Ohio is one of several states that will share $26 billion as part of a national opioid abuse settlement.
The deal involves three distributors, Ohio-based Cardinal, McKesson and Amerisource Bergen, as well as drugmaker Johnson & Johnson. A substantial portion of the settlement will be spent on opioid treatment and prevention. Attorney Paul Geller says there are restrictions to ensure that.
“The main point is it will be used for those purposes. It won’t be used to fill potholes or to build libraries or to balance budgets," Geller said.
From 2010 to 2019, 23,700 Ohioans lost their lives to opioid abuse. As attorney general, now-Gov. Mike Dewine joined local governments in suing the companies.
Some 4,000 entities nationwide are part of this settlement. The more of those entities that accept it, the bigger the payout will be.
Mayors and officials from communities around Ohio will meet Friday to discuss the settlement.
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