Nevada Gets $333M To Fight Opioid Crisis

Nevada Gets $333M To Fight Opioid Crisis

Introduction

Nevada received more than $333 million by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs to combat the effect of the opioid crisis.

Grants will apparently go to law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and treatment professionals across the country. $1,282,324 will support public safety and public health professionals in the District of Nevada. Other funds will likely support services for children and youth affected by the crisis.

Organizations in the District of Nevada also received the following awards:

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program.

Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program.

Adult Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court Discretionary Grant Program.

The awards will address prescription drug abuse, expand the capacity of forensic labs, and support opioid-related research. A wide range of activities, preventive services, and comprehensive treatment to recovery assistance, forensic science services, and research will be covered by the award.

Earlier, attorneys on behalf of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Janssen Pharmaceuticals filed an appeal over Oklahoma judge’s ruling to pay $465 million to help the state recover from the opioid crisis.

According to the appeal filed, the company argued that Judge Thad Balkman made many errors during the trial held earlier this year. The company also said that the judge misapplied the state’s public nuisance laws in reaching his decision, and the award should be reduced by $355 million to offset pretrial settlements between the state and two other drugmakers.

The state filed a lawsuit in 2017, alleging J&J and other drug companies for fuelling the opioid epidemic in Oklahoma, which led to the death of tens of thousands of Oklahomans. The lawsuit resulted in a $572 million verdict that was later reduced to $465 million after Judge Balkman admitted miscalculation.

The state also has plans to appeal for the $465 million, stating that it would only cover one year of its cleanup plan, which can only be done until Monday.