This interview was recorded Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Henderson County Courthouse Annex. Please listen to the podcast with Judge Wade McKinney for a more in-depth discussion of the issue.
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Henderson County Commissioners this week approved a statewide settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson over claims the company's deceptive marketing tactics contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis.
This settlement is with Johnson & Johnson and is separate from the multistate agreement with four drug companies over the same issues. That settlement has been dubbed the "Global Opioid Settlement."
Henderson County was a litigant in the Johnson & Johnson case, which County Judge Wade McKinney said separates the company and the state from the Global settlement and includes the following:
* Payment of the settlement money in one year instead of up to 18 years.
* A guaranteed amount of money.
"The Global settlement wasn't guaranteed in a sure-enough dollar amount because it was subject to offsets and credits," Judge McKinney said.
Judge McKinney said the settlement money should be coming to the County around Jan. 1.
He did emphasize that, unlike the tobacco industry settlement, this settlement isn't for billions of dollars so don't expect a huge windfall. The most important part of this settlement is that 70 percent of the money will go toward opioid abatement.
"This truly is different," Judge McKinney said. "This settlement agreement looks forward to treating the opioid addictions."
This agreement does not stop the County from seeking settlements from other drug companies.
According to the National Institutes of Health, opioid sales have quadrupled since 1999 and one out of every three opioid prescriptions is abused.
A coalition of organizations has started HOPE Henderson County to bring opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery services to the county.
HOPE Henderson County will hold an “Opioid Awareness” workshop from 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. This workshop will be held in the multi-purpose room at the St. Edward’s Education and Ministry Center, 1310 S. Palestine St, Athens, Texas 75751.
