$55M For An Ohio County To Get Rid Of Opioid Crisis

$55M For An Ohio County To Get Rid Of Opioid Crisis

Introduction

A $ 55 million settlement has been rewarded to the Hamilton County area from the national opioid settlement, whereas Northern Kentucky counties might receive $20 million.

The Hamilton County area is set to receive the amount from next month, whereas the Northern Kentucky counties would require to wait slightly longer for the payout.

The settlement is intended to get rid of the effects of opioid addiction on the communities after millions of people became addicted to it due to the legal prescription of these painkillers after sports accidents, car crashes and long-term pain.

The money would be distributed in two waves, with the first in April or May and the second in July or August. The amount would be used for addiction treatment, prevention, education, and safety. The Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition has informed that they are creating a regional fund to determine the usage of the money.

Ohio was one of the first states in the country to reach a settlement and determine the allocation of funds between the cities, counties and the state. Hence, it will be among the first states to acquire the settlement amount.

The settlement would be a huge relief to the state of Ohio and Kentucky, as these two are the hardest-hit areas in the country.

The settlement amount would be disbursed by the three big drug distributors, namely Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson, who was responsible to monitor the opioid distribution and suspicious orders.

As per the estimates last year, approximately 454 people died in Hamilton County due to opioid overdose. The city witnessed 570 overdose deaths in 2017, whereas the numbers dipped to 487 in 2019 and 499 in 2020.