Washington To Get $371.8M To Fight Opioid Crisis

Washington To Get $371.8M To Fight Opioid Crisis

Introduction

Following the settlement of a lawsuit against opioid-producing and -selling businesses, the state of Washington will receive $371.8 million to combat opioid addiction, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

The 125 local governments in the state will each receive half of that sum, and they must utilize the money on opioid cleanup. The state will receive the remainder. King County and its communities will get more than $100 million. About $26 million will be spent only in Seattle. Pierce County will receive $48.2 million, and Snohomish County will receive $47.3 million.

Four separate settlements with CVS, Walgreens, Teva, and Allergan provided the funding. In the two biggest, Walgreens will pay $120 million to Washington over a 15-year period, while CVS will contribute $110 million over a 10-year period.

In accordance with the agreements, CVS and Walgreens would "tightly monitor" the opioid prescriptions they write and stop patients from requesting numerous opioid prescriptions. Teva cannot advertise opioids, and Allergan will stop selling opioids for ten years. The resolution was approved by all of the relevant municipal governments.

The Attorney General stated in a news release that these resources are being distributed to all areas of the state to confront the fentanyl issue and enhance treatment alternatives. Our neighborhoods will be safer, and lives will be saved.

A $518 million settlement with three of the biggest opioid distributors in the country—Mckesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp.—was announced by the attorney general last year.

The money can be applied to housing, education, naloxone distribution, school-based programs, and first responder support in order to meet opioid rehabilitation standards.