SC To Get $242M New Opioid Settlement

SC To Get $242M New Opioid Settlement

Introduction

The Attorney General of South Carolina has agreed to settlements with Teva, Allergan, CVS, and Walgreens for their participation in the opioid crisis.

These corporations have agreed to pay more than $17.3 billion to settle claims throughout the country over the next 15 years. According to the Attorney General's office, South Carolina's portion of the proceeds from these settlements is $242 million if all counties and qualifying cities participate fully.

In addition to the monetary recovery, CVS and Walgreens, together with Walmart, agreed on a settlement announced last month to monitor, report and exchange data regarding questionable opioid prescription behaviour.

Teva and Allergan have committed to discontinuing opioid promotion, both directly and through third-party front groups, as well as opioid-related lobbying. The corporations must also make available to the public millions of papers created during litigation.

These agreements provide counties and qualifying cities with the option to study the conditions and sign on during the first quarter of 2023.

Almost all of the settlement payments, as in earlier agreements with the three main opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson, must be spent to slow the opioid epidemic via education, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery programmes.

According to the attorney general, the opioid crisis is the worst drug pandemic in US history, and it was developed and driven by a number of corporations. He went on to say that the country has seen a number of lives lost and families destroyed. This settlement and the reforms made by these firms will result in more South Carolinians being alive, healthy, and happy.

The attorney general estimates that with full participation by counties and qualifying cities, South Carolina will have over $600 million in money for opioid abatement over the next 15 years.

The payments are designed to provide vital help in the early years as well as long-term resources. CVS' payments will be spread over ten years, Walgreens' payments over fifteen years, Teva's payments over thirteen years, and Allergan's payments over seven years.

If enough people join up, payments will begin in the second half of 2023.