Jasper County enters into agreement to receive more opioid settlement money

Jasper County is going to be receiving even more settlement money from companies who were sued for their role in the opioid crisis.

Jasper County Attorney Scott Nicholson said the county has already started receiving funds from the three major pharmaceutical companies that entered into settlement agreements. The county board of supervisors initially hired lawyers in 2018 to sue the companies.

However, the lawyers have also begun to sue and reach settlements with retail outlets, specifically Teva, Allergen, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS. Nicholson sought a formal resolution from the board of supervisors to enter into these settlements and start receiving even more funding.

“It’s going to be another significant amount of money from what I can tell,” Nicholson said. “…This means more money for the Opioid Settlement Committee to disperse in Jasper County. I’m not sure exactly how much money we’re going to be receiving. But, I mean, these are five of the larger retailers in America.”

In February, the board of supervisors establishedthe Jasper County Opioid Settlement Committee, which is made up of Nicholson, deputy auditor of financials Teresa Arrowood, county auditor Jenna Jennings, health department administrator Becky Pryor and county supervisor Denny Stevenson.

According to an article published by The Associated Press in November 2022, a number of United States pharmacy chains agreed to pay billions of dollars’ worth of settlements over the toll of the opioid crisis. Governments and pharmacies filled prescriptions they should have flagged as inappropriate, the lawsuits say.

Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from more than 21,000 in 2010 to more than 80,000 in 2021, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2017, there were 47,600 reported deaths linked to opioids. Three years later, the number of reported deaths skyrocketed to 68,630 and only continues to climb.

At the time the committee was created, the county had already received two payments in settlement money, totaling almost $300,000.

Since then the committee has created an application form to for organizations to receive funding. The money is specifically for organizing serving Jasper County and may include but are not limited to: schools, hospitals, medical and substance abuse providers, treatment centers, prevention organizations, etc.

According to a March press release from the committee, the funds will go towards projects that will have an impact in the community. The prevention and abatement of the use of opioids and treatment of those with addictions to opioids are a few of the key focus areas for the funds.

Applications can be found at the Jasper County Health Department at 315 W. Third St. N., Suite 100, in Newton. The first deadline for applications is April 30.