PRESS RELEASE, JANUARY 27, 2022
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that as of yesterday’s deadline, all 67 counties, including 241 local governments with a population of 10,000 or more, have joined the historic $26 billion opioid agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – and Johnson & Johnson over the companies’ role in creating and fueling the nationwide opioid crisis.
“Every community in Pennsylvania has been touched by the opioid crisis — it have ravaged our towns, our families, and our state. This historic agreement has now received the support of all 67 counties and many local governments across Pennsylvania.
With this landmark support, Pennsylvania is on track to receive the full $1.07 billion, with funding beginning to flow into our communities as early as April to jumpstart programs and ramp up staffing to save the lives of those struggling with opioid addiction. This agreement marks the most significant influx of resources to our Commonwealth to address this epidemic, jet-fueled by greedy pharmaceutical companies. Our work here is not done — this settlement is only with three distributors and Johnson & Johnson. There are more companies and more executives who will pay for what was done in Pennsylvania.
While no dollar amount will bring back what we have lost, this settlement was negotiated to allocate funding to states and local communities who have been most impacted by this crisis, and will provide more resources for treatment than any previous settlement. I look forward to seeing the progress these resources will make in neighborhoods, treatment facilities, and the lives of so many,” said AG Shapiro.
AG Shapiro along with the attorneys general of North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Texas led the negotiations of this multistate agreement.
Author: Amaury Abreu
