Attorney General Cameron Announces Kentucky to Receive $483 Million from Final Settlement with Drug Distributors, Johnson & Johnson

Settlement is second largest in U.S. history, will fund opioid abatement programs

FRANKFORT, Ky. (February 25, 2022) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today announced the historic $26 billion settlement with opioid distributors and a manufacturer has been finalized and will return $483 million to the Commonwealth for programs to address the opioid epidemic.  The agreement settles claims with Cardinal Health, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson for the companies’ roles in fueling the opioid epidemic.  The distributors are expected to start releasing funds to a national administrator in April, and money will begin to be distributed to Kentucky and local governments in the second quarter of 2022.

“This historic $483 million settlement provides the Commonwealth with funds to meaningfully address the effects of the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Cameron.  “We’ve fought to ensure that the opioid companies are held accountable for their roles in creating this crisis and that Kentucky receives the funding it is due for the harm these terrible drugs have inflicted upon our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. This funding cannot come quickly enough, and we will continue to work closely with the legislature and local governments to ensure the funds are put toward programs that will stop the cycle of addiction and help heal our communities.”

The agreement marks the culmination of years of negotiations to resolve more than 4,000 claims of state and local governments across the country. It is the second largest multistate agreement in U.S. history, second only to the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement…. (Excerpts from Attorney General Daniel Cameron Newsroom)