Attorney General James Distributes First Funds from Historic Opioid Settlements

 

“The opioid crisis has devastated communities in Buffalo, across Western New York, and throughout the state,” said Attorney General James. “These funds will help us take opioids out of our communities and ensure that every New Yorker struggling with addiction gets the help they need. While no amount of money will ever make up for the lives we’ve lost, these funds will be vital in helping to prevent future deaths and destruction.” 

 The breakdown of the funds that will be distributed in 2022 is below. 

Western New York Total: $12,804,235 

• City of Buffalo: $582,427
• Allegany County: $293,856
• Cattaraugus County: $528,364
• Chautauqua County: $1,021,617
• Erie County: $8,339,874
• Niagara County: $2,038,096

Long Island Total: $46,900,693 

• Nassau County: $20,461,139 
• Suffolk County: $26,439,555 

Central New York Total: $6,304,808

• City of Syracuse: $263,422
• Cayuga County: $538,933
• Cortland County: $322,716
• Madison County: $483,503
• Onondaga County: $3,771,991
• Oswego County: $924,241

Finger Lakes Region: $9,062,035

• City of Rochester: $390,918
• Genesee County: $423,876
• Livingston County: $404,888
• Monroe County: $5,597,620
• Ontario County: $781,354
• Orleans County: $246,260
• Seneca County: $230,746
• Wayne County: $592,953
• Wyoming County: $245,544
• Yates County: $147,872

Capital Region Total: $5,783,397 

• City of Albany: $116,277 
• Albany County: $1,664,997 
• Columbia County: $391,761 
• Greene County: $473,167 
• Rensselaer County: $757,967 
• Saratoga County: $1,001,677 
• Schenectady County: $726,152 
• Warren County: $365,142 
• Washington County: $286,252 

Today’s payments are the first of many to New Yorkers to combat the opioid crisis. The first payments come from settlements with opioid distributors — AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and McKesson Corporation. Later this year, Long Island will receive additional payments from the settlements with Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Allergan. In addition, counties will receive funds from the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund, which is managed by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). 

In March 2019, Attorney General James filed the nation’s most extensive lawsuit to hold accountable the various manufacturers and distributors responsible for the opioid epidemic. The manufacturers named in the complaint included Purdue Pharma and its affiliates, as well as members of the Sackler Family (owners of Purdue) and trusts they control; Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its affiliates (including its parent company Johnson & Johnson); Mallinckrodt LLC and its affiliates; Endo Health Solutions and its affiliates; and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and its affiliates. The distributors named in the complaint were McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., Amerisource Bergen Drug Corporation, and Rochester Drug Cooperative Inc.  

In December 2021, Attorney General James scored a court victory against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA after a jury found the company and its affiliates liable for violating New Yorkers’ rights. A subsequent trial will now be held to determine how much Teva and others will be required to pay, which will be added to the up to $1.5 billion Attorney General James has already secured for the state of New York from different opioid manufacturers and distributors. 

In September 2021, Attorney General James secured $50 million from Endo for New York state and Nassau and Suffolk counties to combat the opioid crisis and removed the opioid manufacturer from New York’s ongoing opioid trial. 

In July 2021, Attorney General James secured a settlement with McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen that will deliver up to $1 billion to New York state to combat the opioid epidemic. 

In June 2021, Attorney General James announced a settlement that will deliver $230 to New York and end Johnson & Johnson’s sale of opioids nationwide.  

The cases against Mallinckrodt, Purdue Pharma, and Rochester Drug Cooperative are now moving separately through U.S. Bankruptcy Court.