Louisville & Kentucky To Get Over $57M In Opioid Settlement

Introduction

A $57 million opioid settlement is announced for Louisville Metro Government and Jefferson County, which would be paid for 20 years.

By the end of 2023, the city is expected to receive the first $7 million installment. Three pharmaceutical distributors—AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson—, as well as one pharmaceutical manufacturer—Janssen, a division of Johnson & Johnson—, will provide the funding. According to a statement released by the Mayor's Office, nationwide settlements with CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Teva, and Allergan were also concluded last month.

505 of the 2,100 overdose fatalities that occurred in Kentucky last year occurred among residents of the Louisville metro region. The interim chief health strategist for the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness stated that while the $57 million would have an impact, it will not be enough to end Louisville's opioid issue.

Organizations engaged in harm reduction will get $1.5 million. The funds will support community engagement initiatives, education, overdose prevention, the provision of Narcan, and HIV and Hepatitis C tests. According to a news release from the city, additional objectives include broadening the reach of the Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition to include more members of the Latino community and residents of West Louisville.

$250,000 will be used for "collaborative projects," which will involve employing an outside assessor to judge how well the funds are being allocated and a staff member to oversee a neighborhood advisory board.

Public applications will be accepted, and $5.3 million will be given out. The Mayor's Office expects to start this in the autumn. An Opioid Settlement Distribution Advisory Board, whose members will be selected by the mayor, will evaluate proposals. Before funds can be provided, the Louisville Metro Council must authorise all expenditures.

For the following 18 years, the Mayor's Office will submit financing suggestions yearly. The funds are distinct from the state's opioid settlement fund, which is managed by the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission of Kentucky, which was established in 2021 by House Bill 427. Through the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission website, organizations or governmental organizations can apply for federal assistance. According to the commission's FAQ website, individuals cannot submit a grant application.

Following a number of federal cases, businesses that produced, marketed, or distributed opioid medications will deliver over $50 billion in settlement funds to local governments nationwide. BrownGreer, the company hired by the court to handle the settlements, has provided the organization with the precise amount of money each city or county is getting, down to the penny.

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