The state has received nearly $24 million for this year’s payments as part of recent opioid settlements.
The Maryland Attorney General’s office reached settlements last year with McKesson, Cardinal Health, Amerisource Bergen and Johnson & Johnson for the companies “illegally marketing and distributing opioids,” per a release from the A.G. on Wednesday.
Montgomery County receives $1,671,798.34, Gaithersburg receives $45,754.74, Rockville receives $50,574.73 and Takoma Park receives $13,641.08.
In a written statement, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the “continuing flow of payments” will help fight the opioid crisis.
“This is about standing up against the devastation and offering a path to healing and restoration for our communities.”
Last month, County Executive Marc Elrich said the county allocated $1.6 million in legal settlement money over the next three years to prevention and harm reduction initiatives, grief support and adolescent services. A portion will go to hiring professionals like school nurses, therapists and program managers.
Elrich said the county will receive $6 million in settlements reached with drug companies that “unleashed the opioids and fentanyl on our country.” He said the amount is a pittance compared to the amount of harm and grief the companies caused.
“I guarantee you we are not going to be able to pay for a treatment center and opening up community clinics, and doing all this other work on the lousy money we’re getting from these companies that created this problem in the first place,” he said during a media briefing.
Elrich hopes there are other ways to go after companies for reparations, “or that perhaps they develop a conscience, I realize that’s a stretch.”
Per the Attorney General’s office, the latest $24 million payment is the most recent installment of about $395 million that the state — and counties — will receive over 18 years.
