APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Outagamie County board voted to create a separate fund to manage its opioid settlement payments.
The state of Wisconsin received about $400 million as part of a proposed $26 billion national legal settlement over the opioid crisis.
The funds come from drug distribution and pharmaceutical companies, Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.
In 2022, Outagamie County received $867,510. The county stands to receive more than $5 million over the next 18 years.
“This has been a long time in the making,” Tom Nelson, Outagamie County Executive said. “I am grateful to the board in addition to the governor and attorney general for making this possible. This crucial funding will help the county and local stakeholders reign in the opioid epidemic that is crushing our communities, destroying families and killing our children.”
The settlements will allow for a broad range of approved uses including intervention, treatment, education, and recovery services.
Wisconsin is also set to receive more than $173 million after its settlement with CVS and Walgreens for its alleged role in the opioid addiction crisis.
The Outagamie County Coroner’s office tracked 34 opioid-related deaths in 2020, 31 in 2021, and 26 in 2022. There are still 35 autopsy reports waiting to come back which will likely increase the number of opioid deaths in 2022.
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