Wasco County opts into revised Purdue opioid settlement to secure local share of funds for prevention

Wasco County on Aug. 6 authorized county officials to opt into the revised Purdue Pharmaceuticals bankruptcy settlement, allowing the county to claim a share of settlement proceeds for opioid-prevention and related public-health uses.

County Counsel Kristen Campbell explained the new settlement resolves objections raised by the U.S. Supreme Court to the earlier proposed settlement and adds provisions addressing the Sackler family interests. The county's participation requires an opt-in decision; staff advised the board to register the county as a participating public body.

Campbell said the allocation process follows the prior framework and that local shares of the settlement have historically ranged in the tens of thousands of dollars for similarly sized jurisdictions; exact amounts depend on the final national distribution and the number of participating public bodies. She also confirmed the settlement proceeds are designated for opioid-prevention programming and related public-health interventions.

Action: The board voted unanimously to opt in to the revised Purdue settlement and authorized the administrative officer to effectuate the opt-in in accordance with the settlement documents.

Why it matters: Joining the settlement allows Wasco County to receive potential funding for prevention, treatment, recovery and related public-health activities stemming from the national Purdue resolution.

What’s next: County staff will track settlement implementation and the allocation process and will coordinate with public-health partners to plan eligible uses.