Rocky Mount Today

From February 10, 2023 Post.

Opioid Settlement Received - Opioid distributors pay Warren! 

(A Message from Mayor Fouts): 

This money was settlement for the public nuisance associated with the Opioid public health epidemic, causing needless overdose deaths in Warren. 

The law firms of Edelson, PC and Robert Huth should be credited. Attorney General Dana Nessel has also played a significant role in making this settlement possible. 

 This week, Warren received the first payment of $567.383.61 for payment by the Opioid companies for a number of overdose deaths in Warren, the number of Warren residents with addiction, and the number of opioids prescribed. The Warren population also was part of the metric system used. We are expecting more payments including a sizable one coming soon. City Attorney Ethan Vinson and staff should be commended for their effort at making this possible. 

This Warren settlement was made despite the threatened rejection by the current Warren Council because they wanted to micromanage the settlement; attempting to micromanage the Police and Fire Commissioners’ proposals for these funds and their expertise in implementing drug addiction prevention measures. This was despite the previous Council formally approving my request to join the litigation in 2018.

This money will be used in part to fund prevention and treatment of addiction. Warren Police soon after Bill Dwyer came back were issued Narcan to save the lives of many people in Warren who had an overdose. Many addict lives have been saved by both the Warren Police and Fire Departments because of their quick response. Money toward our public safety help, as well as, that of the Warren Drug Court may possibly be reimbursed by the settlement money. Health care services for addicts and recovering addicts can also be used! 

These companies had to pay out billions to our governments because they flooded the market with opioids, convinced doctors to recommend them, and said they were not addictive. (When they were) 

When prescribed opioids became too expensive addicts turned to street drugs such as heroin. Later, the drug dealers started lacing heroin with the highly potent, highly addictive, and deadly fentanyl. 

Note: I believe Warren was one of the hardest hit cities. That is why we are receiving particularly large settlements for many years to come.

Original source can be found here.