New Hope Joins National Opioid Class-action Settlement
The New Hope City Council voted in favor of participating in a landmark class-action settlement agreement with distributors and manufacturers of opioid drugs. The council unanimously approved the decision at its Oct. 25 meeting.
Minnesota stands to gain more than $300 million through a $26 billion national settlement agreement. The amount the state receives depends on participation by cities and counties. The deadline for municipal entities to participate in the settlement is Jan. 2.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office joined the multi-state settlement agreement in August against pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmericsourceBergen and opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
According to the settlement agreement, the money would be put toward opioid prevention and treatment programs.
Deaths from opioid overdoses have increased significantly during the pandemic. Preliminary reports from state health officials indicate 654 opioid-involved deaths in 2020, a 59 percent increase from the year prior.
Also See: Drug Overdose Deaths Spike in 2020
