Capitol News

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is encouraging local governments to join a national settlement with eight opioid drug manufacturers before the October 8 deadline. The $720 million settlement aims to resolve litigation over the companies' roles in the opioid crisis, with Michigan eligible for up to $24.5 million.

“These national settlements have already made a significant difference in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” Nessel said. “I hope that every eligible community signs on so we can maximize the resources available to save lives and support recovery across Michigan.”

The agreement involves Mylan (now part of Viatris), Hikma, Amneal, Apotex, Indivior, Sun, Alvogen, and Zydus. In Michigan, 279 local government units are eligible to participate. The Department of Attorney General has published a list of these subdivisions on its website and is offering assistance for those needing help with participation forms before the deadline.

Since 2019, Nessel's office has worked on holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. These efforts have led to more than $1.8 billion in settlements from several companies including McKinsey & Co., major distributors such as Cardinal Health, McKesson Inc., AmerisourceBergen, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Pharmaceutical, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens. Funds from these settlements are allocated to state and local governments for treatment and remediation related to opioid use disorder.

Recent data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows a 34% drop in overdose deaths between 2023 and 2024—about 1,000 fewer deaths. This decrease is attributed to ongoing investments in prevention and treatment programs supported by funds from previous opioid settlements.