$3.5 million from Walgreens: Here's how Bay County's most recent opioid settlement works

Samantha Neely, The News Herald
·3 min read

BAY COUNTY — The Bay County Commission has approved a settlement agreement for $3.5 million with Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Walgreens Co. for their roles in the opioid crisis.

The county filed suit against the major pharmaceutical company as part of the National Opioid Litigation, with Walgreen expected to pay a proposed settlement to the state of $683 million. Walgreens will pay out Bay County's settlement over 18 years and could issue the first payment next month.

In April, the county approved a similar settlement for almost $600,000 with CVS Health Corporation/CVS Pharmacy Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals and Allergan Pharmaceuticals.

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This June 2019 photo shows 5-mg pills of oxycodone. AP PHOTO
This June 2019 photo shows 5-mg pills of oxycodone. AP PHOTO

The state has filed a separate action against many of the same companies.

Commissioner Doug Moore said the county will receive $197,000 into the general fund each year from the settlement.

"It'd be available for us to use however we see fit inside of the general fund," Moore said. "And I know we've been working closely with (Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford) on doing rehab and work with them, so it'll give us the flexibility to use it ... for the benefit of the community."

The lawsuit and settlement process has taken about two years.

Moore said the lawsuits started with a nationwide spike in opioid overdoses.

"We entered into the class-action lawsuit as Bay County and filed with the state and with federal and this is part of the settlement process," Moore said. "Each of the manufacturers and/or distributors, like Walgreens, are settling these cases."

Bay County officials hope to use the settlement funds to help those recovering from opioid use, Moore said. The Bay County Sheriff's Office recently launched a program targeting opioid addiction.

"I know one of the ways that we've been working with the sheriff is, he is looking at creating something outside of the jail that's going to be less secure but is for people that are trying to do rehab and do better and they don't have as much needs of being behind the gate for lack of a better way of saying it," Moore said. "Being able to work with these citizens that are wanting to work on recovery and being able to make the funds available for that."

Companies that have reached settlements or filed for bankruptcy in Bay County opioid case:

  • AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp.

  • Cardinal Health Inc.

  • McKesson Corp.

  • Purdue Pharma L.P.

  • Purdue Pharma Inc.

  • Purdue Frederick Company Inc.

  • Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

  • Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

  • Cephalon Inc.

  • Johnson & Johnson

  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  • Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  • Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc.

  • Noramco Inc.

  • Endo Health Solutions Inc.

  • Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  • Allergan PLC

  • Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  • Watson Laboratories Inc.

  • Actavis LLC

  • Actavis Pharma Inc.

  • Mallinckrodt PLC

  • Mallinckrodt LLC

  • SpecGx, LLC

  • Par Pharmaceutical, Inc.

  • Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc.

  • CVS Health Corp.

  • Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.

Remaining defendants:

  • J.M. Smith Corp.

  • Omnicare Distribution Center LLC

  • Publix Super Markets Inc.

  • Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

  • Albertson's LLC

  • Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.

  • Walmart Inc., F/K/A Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay County reaches $3.5 million settlement with Walgreens for opioids