NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – The money that New York state gets in settlements with opioid makers will now go toward beating the drug crisis.
The state has raked in dozens of millions thanks to lawsuits brought by Attorney General Letitia James against drug makers over the past few years.
All of that money is usually just dumped into what’s called the general fund—but that’s about to change.
Approved legislation from Bronx state Sen. Gustavo Rivera creates an opioid settlement fund. Any future settlements would go there and help fund treatment and prevention programs.
"As many times happens, settlements go into the general fund and are used for whatever purpose, to cover whatever different thing that the governor might have an interest in in that particular moment,” Rivera said. “We want to make certain that this money is utilized to repair the harm that has been caused by these companies.”
An advisory board to figure out where the money would best be spent will also be formed. The legislation also makes sure that money currently being used to fight the crisis is not replaced by money from the settlement fund.
The state has already settled for $32 million with McKinsey & Company, part of a nationwide case.
The state’s trial against Purdue Pharma and other drug makers gets underway later this month.