LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Apr. 22, 2022) – Health advocates in Michigan don’t want $800 million in opioid settlement money to suffer the same fate as millions in tobacco settlement cash that ended up funding everything except smoking cessation efforts.
The state Senate this week approved several pieces of legislation that would guarantee the money from AmerisourceBergen, McKessen, Cardinal Health and Johnson & Johnson would go into a separate, dedicated fund, establish a commission to oversee its distribution, and to prevent local municipalities from seeking their own settlements. The package was the result of joint efforts by the legislative and executive branches of state government to address this issue.
In statements published on Thursday by her office, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said, “There is no amount of money that can fill the void left by a loved one, but with the investments we can make thanks to this historic settlement, we can ensure Michiganders facing substance use disorder have the support and resources they need to get better. This legislation means Michigan families impacted by the devastating opioid epidemic will get some semblance of relief. These funds will bring millions of dollars to treat opioid use disorder, and support our neighbors, family, and friends in treatment and recovery.”
“On a personal note, I have spent the past couple months visiting communities and organizations around Michigan to learn more about the work being done to prevent and treat Opioid Use Disorder, and while local governments will receive direct payments, the timely deployment of state settlement dollars is crucial in the fight against opioids,” added Attorney General Dana Nessel. “Time is not on our side when it comes to Michigan’s opioid epidemic. I applaud our colleagues in the Senate for advancing the legislation today. The sooner we get this infrastructure in place, the quicker settlement dollars can be used to help our residents and communities that continue to struggle.”
Similar bills cleared the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month and should be voted on by the full Lower Chamber when they return to Lansing next week. According to the CDC, nearly three thousand people in Michigan lost their lives from all drug overdoses from September 2020 to September 2021.
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