SEATTLE — Over $370 million will be coming into Washington state as a result of an opioid settlement with four major companies.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced details around the settlement Monday morning, including that all 125 eligible local governments signed onto the resolution.
CVS will pay $110.7 million to Washington state over the next 10 years, Walgreens will send $120.3 million over the next 15 years, Teva will pay $90.8 million over the next 13 years and Allergan will pay $50 million over the next seven years.
Half of the money from the settlements will go to the eligible cities and counties, while the other half will go to the state. All money from the settlements must go toward opioid remediation.
“These resources are flowing to every corner of the state to address the Fentanyl crisis and improve treatment options,” Ferguson said. “This will save lives and make our communities safer.”
King County and its local governments will receive the largest amount from the settlements at $104.4 million. Pierce County ($48.8 million), Snohomish County ($47.3 million), Spokane County ($35.6 million) and Clark County ($27.1) million round out the top five counties receiving the most from the settlements.
Allergan will stop selling opioids for a decade and Teva will no longer be able to market opioids as part of the resolutions.
Carol Schweigert of Mount Vernon told KING 5 she is hoping this new funding goes towards primary prevention, particularly targeting youth.
"I personally would like to see a statewide mandated public awareness campaign. But if we can't get a statewide mandated campaign, we have to just try to hit up our communities one-by-one. And I've been trying to do that with my community."
Her 27-year-old son Trey died in 2018 after taking a counterfeit Percocet that had fentanyl in it.
“He was just a joy to be around, you know, he just lit up a room," said Schweigert.
She said he swallowed a pill he was given by an acquaintance while recovering from a broken leg from skateboarding.
"He was in a lot of pain," she said.
Nearly five years later, she is channeling her pain into advocacy.
Meantime, Attorney General Ferguson told KING 5 Tuesday, "I think the difference it’ll make will be significant.”
Decisions on how to spend it will be made locally. The funds, he said, "must be used within the confines of addressing the epidemic.”
He also said that more treatment beds could be created from this. He said it could go toward housing or educating people who are in treatment and recovery, as well as the distribution of naloxone, or even in supporting first responders.
He urges people to become civically engaged to direct leaders of where to put the funds.
"Folks, if they care how this money is utilized, contact their local city council member," said Ferguson.
It could even be used for school-based programs. That's something Schweigert supports.
"We need to be where the kids are," she said.
She said primary prevention could be the difference-maker for the next Washington family.
"I was so shocked and traumatized by my son's death, and all it would have taken was awareness to maybe save a life, just knowing about it," she said. "Had I had any clue about fentanyl or fake pills or anything like that, you can guarantee I would’ve been having a discussion with my son.”
As far as when we can expect to see impacts from this funding, Ferguson said it should start flowing into our communities in October.
The half-billion dollars they received in a separate opioid company settlement last fall has started to make its way to the eligible cities and counties this month, he said.
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