Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel is making a final push for local governments to quickly sign up for a slice of the Purdue Pharma opioid settlement pie before the September 30 cutoff. The state's municipalities have a shot at securing up to $154 million over the next 15 years from the $7.4 billion nationwide agreement, money that's earmarked for battling the devastating effects of opioids. "While I am proud of the work that my office has done to help secure this settlement, its impact will be measured by how effectively these funds reach the local communities hit hardest by the opioid crisis," Nessel stated, per the Michigan Attorney General's Office.
Under the settlement terms, 279 local Michigan domains—termed subdivisions—are eligible to participate. Documents were already dispatched last Thursday to inform these areas about the participation process. Those in need of help to completely fulfill their forms can reach out to Nessel's department for guidance. Despite the complexity of the issue, this represents a chance, perhaps slim, for Michigan to help mend the social fabric torn by the opioid epidemic.
There's a list of eligible subdivisions on the Attorney General's website, and the clock is ticking for them to respond. In sync with the push for signups, Michigan has polished its State-Subdivision Agreement, which governs the use and monitoring of opioid settlement funds. This revamped agreement now includes provisions for receiving guidance from the Department of Attorney General, obligates annual reporting by recipients, and promotes information sharing on opioid-related spending between local governments and the state.
Nessel, in office since 2019, has aggressively targeted those responsible for the opioid crisis. Her efforts have resulted in Michigan securing more than $1.8 billion in settlements from key players in the pharmaceutical industry. This cash flow is essential, needs to be directly put to use in treatment, and remediating the ravages of opioids across the state's communities. "It is my hope that every eligible local government participates so these dollars can save as many lives as possible," Nessel conveyed, as cited by the Michigan Attorney General's Office.
