Pierce County Secures $14M In Opioid Settlement

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The Pierce County Council this week unanimously approved a $14 million settlement from opioid manufacturers and distributors, which officials say will help address the impacts of addiction. The settlement, negotiated by the state Attorney General, will be paid out to the county over 17 years.

"When we started the Opioid Task Force, it was with this day in mind," said council chair Derek Young in a statement Wednesday. "We can't bring back the lives we've lost or unwind the damage done. But these funds will provide treatment and other services for our residents and prevention programming to reduce missed of illicit narcotics."

Pierce County cities with at least 10,000 residents can also claim another $9.35 million, which council members anticipate will help stand up regional solutions across jurisdictions.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Washington would receive more than a half-billion dollars from three of the nation's largest opioid distributors to resolve a lawsuit alleging they helped fuel a deadly epidemic while making billions in profits.

Ferguson alleged the three companies shipped massive amounts of oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl and other opioids into Washington, despite knowing the risk of the drugs ending up on the street or impacting people struggling with substance abuse.