Opioid settlement agreement: Milwaukee County gets $71M for epidemic
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee County leaders signed a landmark settlement agreement on Tuesday, Dec. 21 that will bring $71 million to the county. All funds from this deal will be used for education, treatment, and abatement of the opioid epidemic.
The settlement agreement is part of multi-district litigation against opioid makers filed in the Northern District of Ohio.
"It’s our duty to respond to the growing demand for prevention and treatment services," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. "This settlement signals accountability for all the parties responsible after years of opioids devastating our communities and taking too many lives too soon."
Milwaukee County leaders sign opioid settlement agreement
Milwaukee County will receive the $71 million over 18 years. It is the largest recovery for any local government in the state. Approximately $281 million is going to all litigating local governmental entities in Wisconsin.
"The majority of Wisconsin funding from this settlement will come directly to our local governments, which are closest to the people affected and are on the ground every day doing the hard work to address this epidemic," said Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.
Milwaukee County Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson
Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel Margaret Daun said it is an important development – as we have seen the opioid problem increase over the years – and intensify during the pandemic. In 2002, Milwaukee County recorded 83 deaths related to opioid abuse. In 2021, the county is on track to record more than 500 deaths.
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"Importantly, the money will not be used for policing efforts; law enforcement efforts. In other words, as I mentioned before, we cannot incarcerate our way out of an addiction epidemic," Daun said.
Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel Margaret Daun
The news release says the agreement was reached after more than a year of careful negotiation with the Attorney General, Governor, State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, local governments, national class representatives, state attorneys general, and defendants.
In all, more than $140 million will come to southeast Wisconsin. Once all litigating jurisdictions sign the settlement, which is expected by year's end, funds will be released either in the first or second quarter of 2022.
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