States announce $26B proposed settlement with opioid maker/distributors

State attorneys general yesterday announced a $26 billion proposed settlement with Johnson & Johnson and distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and Amerisource Bergen over the companies’ alleged role in creating and fueling the opioid epidemic. A number of states have signed the agreement, which still must be signed by other state and local governments involved in the litigation. They said most of the settlement would go to opioid treatment and prevention, with each state’s share based on a formula that takes into account factors such as the number of overdose deaths, opioids prescribed and residents with substance use disorder.