"Opioid lawsuit could deliver millions to Volusia, Flagler for treatment, deterrence", 14 Jan 2022

With opioid deaths continuing to mount in Volusia and Flagler counties in the pandemic years, a legal settlement with three of the largest distributors and one major manufacturer could bring the area as much as $30 million to combat misuse.

State attorneys general… sued distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and its parent company Johnson & Johnson, alleging they downplayed the drugs' addictive qualities during years when prescriptions skyrocketed. Between 2000 and 2018, the number of annual deaths from opioid overdoses grew sixfold, reaching 3,189 in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A tentative $26 billion settlement agreement was reached last year, and the parties — including Volusia County and four of its cities — could start receiving payments by mid-year…

Behavioral health care experts say there are…areas where additional funding will help combat opioid use disorder….

First is expanding medication-assisted treatment, particularly the use of buprenorphine…which treats addiction and mental illness.

Also…expand[ing] the Drug Abuse Response Team… to do outreach to any known overdose patients who were treated by emergency medical services…