NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — State Attorney General Letitia James has announced an agreement with three of the nation's largest drug distributors that will deliver up to $1.1 billion to New York to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.
The deal is the largest settlement ever negotiated by James.
As part of the settlement, the McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and Amerisource Bergen Drug Corporation will be removed from the state's ongoing opioid trial, currently underway in Suffolk County.
The trial trial against three other opioid manufacturers continues.
“While no amount of money will ever compensate for the millions of addictions, the hundreds of thousands of deaths, or the countless communities decimated by opioids, this money will be vital in preventing any future devastation,” said James.
The money will be delivered into New York communities ravaged by opioids for treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts, according to the attorney general's office.
Already, both Nassau and Suffolk counties are each slated to receive about $100 million from the settlement.
In Suffolk County, Executive Steve Bellone noted that the agreement would send between $87 million to $106 million to communities on the eastern end of Long Island over 18 years.
He says the money will greatly help many communities and families that have been ravished by the opioid epidemic.
“These dollars can never replace what was lost sons and daughters brothers and sisters parents who have been lost to this crisis and that is not to mention the families that have been devastated as a result of the opioid crisis,” he said.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran agrees.
"While no amount of money will replace the countless lives that have been affected, we can save future lives by expanding our support network and increasing funding for mental health and addiction programs, along with prevention efforts," she said.
Curran notes that the programs that will be funded by the money will help create models for the rest of the country.
“We can also say with some pride that Long Island has paved the way for the rest of the country in these kinds of lawsuits,” she said. “Thanks to our efforts, Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Amerisource Bergen and Cardinal Health will be required to make important changes in their conduct and that will save lives.”
Related
