Westborough Could Get More Than $1M From Opioid Settlement

Westborough MA

12 April, 2022

7:44 AM

Description

WESTBOROUGH, MA — Westborough could receive more than $1 million to pay for treatment programs related to the opioid epidemic over the next two decades following a legal settlement with four drug companies. The money will come from the state's $525 million piece of a larger settlement with Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. Massachusetts was one of 14 states that sued those companies over fallout from the opioid crisis. The states reached a $26 billion settlement in July. Last week, Attorney General Maura Healey said cities and towns in Massachusetts will receive annual payments for drug treatment resources through 2038. Westborough will get $1.066 million total over that period. The first payment of $119,889 will come in July, according to Healey's office. You can see the full payment schedule here. The lawsuits against the opioid distributors accused the companies of sending drugs to pharmacies that were selling the drugs illegally. A separate lawsuit accused Johnson & Johnson of misleading doctors about how addictive the drugs are.