Working through Fairfax County, the town of Vienna will take part in two National Opioid Settlement Agreements being participated in by the state government.
The agreements would resolve all opioid-related litigation being pursued by states against the nation’s three largest pharmaceutical distributors – McKessen, Cardinal Health and Amerisource Bergen – and one manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., and its parent company Johnson & Johnson.
Under the settlements, the companies would have to pay billions of dollars to abate the nation’s opioid epidemic. Virginia cities, towns and counties with populations greater than 10,000 may take part as long as they do so by Jan. 2, 2022.
Vienna Town Council members on Dec. 6 approved a resolution, prepared in accordance with guidance from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, to participate in the settlements.
“We could see no independent benefit to the town for not opting in,” said Town Attorney Steven Briglia.
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority will disburse the settlement funds. Vienna might receive money for law-enforcement programs, such as ones that try to prevent overdoses and make use of Narcan when those emergencies occur, Briglia said.
Town officials “don’t have any idea on dollar amounts” that may be coming to the town as a result of the settlements, said Vienna Police Chief James Morris.