Wayne County getting $770K in opioid settlement funds, on top of original $2.2 million

Another $770,000 on top of the $2.2 million previously received by the Wayne County commissioners to counter the drug epidemic is expected from the latest nationwide settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers.

County Solicitor Wendell Kay made the announcement at the July 17 commissioners' meeting.

He recounted that the initial payout a few years ago involved several pharmaceutical manufacturers, which generated a fund to be shared by the participating counties of Pennsylvania and some municipalities. Based on the county's population, Wayne County received $2.2 million with payments to be made over an 18-year period.

"That is what is now referred to as Wave 1. Wave 2 of the litigation has just been settled involving Teva, Allergan, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and this settlement will be payable over 15 years," Kay said. "It will generate a minimum of $770,000 for Wayne County."

The first two companies are opioid manufacturers; the other three are major pharmacy chains that have been distributors of controlled substances by prescription.

The original settlement, he pointed out, contained a minimum of $1 million, and Wayne County ended up receiving more than twice that amount. "There is a reasonable expectation you will see more than $770,000," Kay said.

The settlement limits what the county can do with the money to address the opioid crisis, Kay said.

"As we all recall, before any of us had heard the word COVID, in terms of an epidemic, there was an opioid epidemic before that," Kay said, "and that epidemic, unfortunately continued throughout the course of the COVID epidemic, and is still rather rampant up till today."

He stated that these funds are still necessary, and Wayne County has been scrupulous in using the funds.

The commissioners approved the Wave 2 agreement with Pennsylvania's Attorney General's Office. This state department initiated the litigation for the Pennsylvania counties that wanted to be a party to the litigation.

Commissioner Jocelyn Cramer stated that the day before, the county Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for people who successfully went through the 18-month drug treatment program. She said that the court, since being established about five or six years ago, has graduated approximately 50 individuals.

"It is a huge number to return people back to sobriety, back to their families, back to the workforce, and the success rate is so high," Cramer said. She added that the program is well conducted.

"This opioid epidemic really surged right before the pandemic; we were starting to see a reduction, and then COVID hit, and it went right back up," Cramer said. "We have fiercely been trying to increase provider services here in the community because that need increased." She said the county's aim is to provide those services for people here in their own communities.

Part of the first round of settlement money has already been used in Wayne County to facilitate a medical assistance treatment program in the county correctional facility, Cramer said. "Our Drug Alcohol Director had recommended this," she said. This service, Cramer said, is close to becoming mandatory by the state. "So far that has gone well," Cramer said, and has been in place about six months.

Wayne County Drug & Alcohol Commission, based in Honesdale, offers help to anyone struggling with substance abuse, Cramer added. She urged those needing help to call 570-253-6022. The Wayne County 24/7 hotline number is 1-833-557-3224.

For more information on the nationwide opioid settlement, see nationalopioidsettlement.com/executive-summary and nationalopioidsettlement.com/news.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne County getting $770K in opioid settlement funds, on top of original $2.2 million