Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz outlined how Erie County will be investing the money they will be receiving as part of its Opioid Lawsuit Settlement on Friday.
A national settlement was recently entered for all lawsuits that were filed against major pharmaceutical companies and distributors that is scheduled to see more than $63 million come Erie County's way by 2038.
The funding from the settlement will be used in a number of different ways. Poloncarz says it will help new and existing programs to fight substance abuse, while also helping other organizations like BestSelf Behavioral Health, Cazenovia Recovery Systems, and WNY United Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse, who work in the community to help people with addiction issues.
"We know our programs work, we're going to expand on it so that we can save more lives in our community. That's the goal," Poloncarz said during an online announcement on Friday. "That's why everyone's here today to make a difference to save lives in our community, and to give people a better life than they may have right now if they're addicted to an opiate drug, or they use another drug that happens to be spiked with an opiate."
Between 2012 and 2021, more than 2,000 lives in Erie County have been lost as a result of opioid-related overdoses, with death rates increasing rapidly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have an addiction and are in need of further assistance, you are encouraged to reach out at (716)-831-7007.
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