The state of Rhode Island will receive a total of $3 million from eight pharmaceutical companies accused of proliferating the nation’s opioid crisis as part of a nationwide settlement announced by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha Thursday.
The eight drugmakers that manufactured opioid pills will pay a maximum of $720 million under an agreement reached with a coalition of attorneys general. That amount includes approximately $618,000 in abatement payments for all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. States may also receive additional cash instead of free pharmaceutical products for medication assisted treatment.
Neronha’s office has so far recovered $315 million in funds from national settlements with drug manufacturers and pharmacies connected to the opioid epidemic.
“$315 million is a lot of money which can make, and has made, a huge difference,” Neronha said in a statement. “But we won’t stop until no individual, no family, suffers further from this entirely preventable disease.”
The announcement comes after Rhode Island netted around $30 million from a settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners in April.
Rhode Island’s share of the latest settlement will be divided between the state and its municipalities — with 80% going to the state’s general fund and the remaining 20% distributed among the state’s 39 cities and towns, as is required under state law, the AG’s office said.
A separate section of state law enacted in 2023 addresses “non multi-state initiatives,” creating a new restricted receipts account for money from settlements with opioid manufacturers. That is handled by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, which Neronha said allocates the funds to organizations and agencies “best equipped to help” those struggling with opioid addiction.
“The good news: we are seeing real results from these efforts, from expanding the state’s in-patient and out-patient treatment capacity, to driving down overdose and overdose deaths,” Neronha said.
Seven of the companies will be barred from promoting or marketing opioids, along with selling any product that contains more than 40 milligrams of oxycodone per pill.
Indivior agreed to not manufacture or sell opioid products for the next 10 years, but can continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.
Companies must also monitor and report suspicious orders, under the settlement.
Massachusetts could receive up to $17 million, Connecticut could receive $8.4 million and New Hampshire stands to receive $4.5 million, according to news releases.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
