Washington To Receive Half-Billion Dollars Amid Opioid Crisis

SEATTLE, WA — Washington state is “set to receive $518 million” amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, according to a news release from Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

The funding plan is part of a resolution with three companies that, according to the release, were “found to have played key roles in fueling the opioid epidemic.”

All 125 eligible local governments signed onto the initiative, which stems from a lawsuit filed by the attorney general.

Ferguson was initially offered a national settlement of $472 million, which he rejected in favor of a trial. His 6-month battle against McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp began in November 2021.

The lawsuit finally ends with the half-billion-dollar resolution.

Payments, which begin on December 1, will go toward opioid treatment and prevention programs and support for communities.

The release says that “Ferguson is directing the additional $46 million [than would have been paid as a result of the national settlement] be used to provide substance abuse treatment and support other strategies to address the opioid crisis, including housing and other wrap-around services.”

“This is a major milestone — one of the largest resolutions in Washington state history — but we’re not done fighting back against the opioid epidemic,” Ferguson said, according to the release. “This represents significant accountability for the opioid distributors that helped fuel the epidemic, as well as urgently needed resources to fight it. The crisis is far from over. Our fight to hold these mega-corporations accountable will continue.”