Cobb County Signs On To $26B Nationwide Opioid Settlement, Pending State Approval

COBB COUNTY, GA — Cobb County will join thousands of other local governments to get its portion of a $26 billion landmark settlement against companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic.

More than 2,000 lawsuits aiming to hold drugmakers, pharmacies and distributors accountable for the thousands of deaths now attributed to opioid overdoses were consolidated into what is considered a landmark case in an Ohio federal court in 2019 — including a Cobb County lawsuit. Cobb's lawsuit names major pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger, Publix and Rite Aid as defendants.

The lawsuits also named Johnson & Johnson, a leading opioid manufacturer, and three of the nation's largest drug distribution companies: McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and Amerisource Bergen Corp, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Related: National Opioid Trial Will Be Argued In Cobb County

Earlier this month, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution in a 4-1 vote to join the settlement, with Commissioner Keli Gambrill voting against the measure. The settlement money would largely be used to support drug prevention programs and to help opioid addicts, Cobb County Attorney Bill Rowling said.

“This is a very serious issue in our community today,” BOC Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said. “We have the opportunity to do something with resources or do nothing with resources and watch others do something to combat this epidemic. We are in a position with this settlement to help our own.”

Gambrill said the lawsuit did not do anything "to address how the opioids get onto the streets" and worried the county may be obligated to keep supporting programs once the settlement money is depleted, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

The lawsuits accused the distributors of ignoring the signs that the prescription pain killers were being used illegally, while J&J downplayed the risks of opioid addiction, according to the AJC. The companies denied the allegations, and a settlement was reached in July.

Johnson & Johnson will pay out $5 billion nationwide over the next nine years, with distributors Amerisource Bergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and McKesson Corp. paying out a total of $21 billion over the next 18 years.

Cities and counties in participating states have until Jan. 2 to accept their portions of the settlement — but Cobb's receipt of the money is contingent on Georgia joining the dozens of other states in the case. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said his office was still negotiating the terms for Georgia's participation, Reuters reported in August.

The state could receive more than $630 million as part of the settlement. Local governments would receive 25 percent, with 75 percent going to the state. Thereafter, 40 percent of the state’s allocation must be directed toward regional relief (i.e. areas where the population is over 400,000, including Cobb County). The exact amount Cobb will receive is yet to be determined.

For more information about the nationwide settlement, visit nationalopioidsettlement.com.