Attorney General Tong talks opioid crisis in Willimantic

Nov. 25—WILLIMANTIC — Speaking about the magnitude of the nationwide opioid crisis, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said 1,400 people have died in Connecticut this year from opioid overdoses.

" That will cost more than $ 10 billion in damages this year to our state and the state's economy," he said during an event at the Willimantic Public Safety conference Tuesday afternoon. " That number is only going up, by the way, and the number of people that we lose every year is only going up."

The event was designed to address a recent settlement with opioid distributors Cardinal, McKesson and Amerisource Bergin and opioid manufacturer Johnson and Johnson.

The settlement involved multiple states.

Cardinal, McKesson and Amerisource Bergin will pay a total of roughly $ 21 billion between the three companies and manufacturer Johnson and Johnson will pay roughly $ 5 billion.

Connecticut is getting approximately $ 300 million through the settlement over the next 18 years. Tong said it is the second- largest, multi- state cash settlement ever.

" It is second only to the tobacco settlement brokered by Attorney General Blumenthal over 20 years ago," he said.

The settlement Blumenthal was involved in was for billions of dollars.

Connecticut recently received its first payment from Johnson and Johnson of nearly $ 43 million.

Tong said 85% of the money from the opioid settlement has to go to abatement, including prevention and treatment resources.

" It's not about the money," he said. " It's about justice. It's about holding actors accountable."

According to Tong's office, Windham will receive $ 454,860 from the settlement, including $ 64,475 from its first payment from Johnson and Johnson.

" It's not just about getting them in recovery," Tong said "It's about keep-

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