Kelly & Formica: CT Must Continue Fighting Opioid Epidemic as Settlement Funds Arrive

October 26, 2022

Today state officials in New London announced the arrival of $13.5 million to Connecticut and its cities and towns from the landmark $26 billion settlement with opioid distributors Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.

 

“I am deeply grateful to so many across our state for their work fighting this epidemic, including the amazing efforts by New London’s Overdose Action Team working every day to save lives,” said Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica (R-East Lyme), who represents New London. “The opioid epidemic is a public health and public safety crisis. It has destroyed lives and taken the lives of far too many. This year Republicans and Democrats came together to pass legislation to safeguard settlement money to ensure it goes to fighting the opioid epidemic. Last year, we worked together to pass a bipartisan bill to use the New London peer navigator model in other communities across the state. People’s lives are in the balance, and Connecticut must continue to push forward with collaborative and comprehensive approaches to end this crisis.”

 

“Today, Connecticut marks another step forward in investing in programs that fight the opioid crisis from all directions, but the work is far from done,” said Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford). “Combatting the opioid crisis, and the deadly nature of illicit fentanyl which has caused the crisis to explode even further, requires a comprehensive approach with continued support for substance abuse treatment, access to lifesaving measures, and stopping crime associated with trafficking of such a deadly substance. Connecticut must do more, we must ensure settlement funds are used to combat this crisis, and we must continue our bipartisan efforts to save lives.”

 

According to data from the Chief Medical Examiner, there were 1,531 confirmed overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2021, with an increase of 11.4% compared to the previous year. Of those overdose deaths, 93% involved an opioid and 85% involved fentanyl- or fentanyl analog.

 

Connecticut is expected to receive approximately $300 million over the next 18 years in settlement funds, with funds directed to opioid abatement, including expanding access to opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery. Connecticut Senate Republicans advocated for legislation to protect these funds as part of their Better Way to an Accountable Connecticut and Better Way to a Safer Connecticut The Fentanyl Crisis legislative proposals. (Learn more at www.betterwayct.com).