Opioid Settlement Resource Center

Overview

A $26 billion nationwide settlement was reached to resolve all Opioids litigation brought by states and local political subdivisions against the three largest pharmaceutical distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen (“Distributors”), and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson (collectively, “J&J”).

The state of Michigan is slated to receive nearly $800 million over 18 years. Fifty percent (50%) of the settlement amount will be sent directed to county and local governments. The national agreement also requires significant industry changes that will help prevent this type of crisis from ever happening again.

Review the National Opioid Settlement

A state-subdivision agreement between the state of Michigan and local government directs how opioid settlement funds are distributed. All 83 counties in Michigan signed on to this agreement. Allocation percentages can be found on exhibit A.

Review the State/Local Agreement

Payments from the two settlements (Distributor Settlement and Janssen Settlement) will be received separately. There will also be separate notices for the two settlements and their applicable payments. BrownGreer is the national settlement distributor and is responsible for notifying local governments of their payments.

Exhibit E of the settlement provides a non-exhaustive list of expenditures that qualify as being paid for Opioid Remediation. (Beginning on Page 63)

County-by-County Estimated Payments (July 2022)

Note on payments: The Michigan Attorney General’s office previously provided “conservative” estimates of what each local government should receive in settlement payments over approximately 18 years. This number could change, and the AG’s office has emphasized that the initial number is an estimate.

Special Circumstance Fund

The Special Circumstance Fund provides additional opioid abatement funding to address a special circumstance of the opioid epidemic that was not addressed by the original calculations for local government’s allocation percentage. Counties were eligible to apply to the Special Circumstance Fund by Oct. 28. In addition to applying to the Special Circumstance Fund, counties have the right to dispute the calculation of the payment they will receive within 21 calendar days of receiving their settlement payment notice.

How Should Counties Spend their Settlement Funds?

The settlement agreement recommends a number of interventions to prevent people from developing a substance and opioid use disorder (OUD), including the funding of: media campaigns; school-based prevention programs; and medical provider education to prevent youth and other individuals from misusing prescription drugs. Prevention is critical to reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. There are numerous primary, secondary and tertiary prevention strategies that can assist those before, during and after initiation of substance use. These tool kits and resources offer strategies to health care providers, communities, and local governments leaders for developing practices and policies to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths.

Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of strategies from safer use, to managed use, to abstinence. Harm reduction strategies meet drug uses “where they’re at,”’” addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.

Strategies around evidence-based treatments include reducing access barriers to effective treatments and supporting research and development of new treatments for substance use disorders/opioid use disorder (SUD/OUD). The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), as well at the Rural Community Opioid Response Program (RCORP), are two initiatives lead by HHS, the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with the aim of advancing this priority policy.

There are numerous pathways to recovery. Recovery resources such as peer supports, employment and housing services, as well as services that address social determinants of health are key aspects of supporting long-term recovery. Recovery takes place in the individual and within the community. Stigma-reduction is a tool for creating communities that promote recovery.

Jails have become a revolving door for individuals struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Across the county, sheriffs and jail staff have been collaborating with community partners and experts to help reduce the number of individuals with substance and opioid use disorders (OUD) coming into their care. They’ve also been a place where individuals experiencing incarceration find a pathway to care and long-term recovery from opioid use disorders. One of the most effective treatments for OUD is the use of (FDA)-approved medications (methadone, buprenorphine and extended-release injectable naltrexone), in conjunction with counseling and psychosocial support. This treatment program is commonly known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

State of Michigan Resources

0422 MAC Web Button State Of Michigan Opioid Website

0422 MAC Website Button Opioid Dashboard

View the Opioid Settlement Resource Library

Explore principles and tracking, evidence-based and promising practices, local government tools, legal resources, equity resources, other toolkits and reports and additional opportunities for funding.

Highlighted Resources

Webinars and Presentations

MDHHS webinar on Harm Reduction
MDHHS webinar on Treatment
MDHHS webinar on Prevention
MDHHS webinar on Recovery
MAC webinar on Opioids
Presentation on Opioid Settlement (2022 Legislative Conference)

Technical Assistance Providers

Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium

Share Your Story

Share how your county is responding to the opioid epidemic and utilizing national opioid settlement fund dollars. Send information to Amy Dolinky at dolinky@micounties.org.