Maine is estimated to receive as much as $130 million over 18 years to address opioid epidemic

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today after Attorney General Aaron Frey announced that he has reached an agreement with litigating cities, counties, and school districts governing Maine’s use of proceeds from the National Opioid Settlements with distributors Cardinal, McKesson, and Amerisource Bergen and opioid manufacturers Johnson & Johnson.

The agreement completes Maine’s acceptance of a settlement that was initially agreed to by Attorney General Frey in August 2021. Governor Mills, as Attorney General in 2017, began Maine’s involvement in the litigation that contributed to this settlement. The settlement is estimated to bring as much as $130 million to Maine over an 18-year period to support state and local efforts to address the opioid epidemic.

“Maine people have suffered and lost their lives at the hands of companies that peddled dangerously addictive opioids to boost their profits and bottom lines,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I applaud the Attorney General for his work to hold them accountable and to reach an agreement with cities, counties, and school districts across Maine to govern the funds’ distribution. I look forward to working with the Attorney General, the Legislature, and others to put these funds to use combatting the opioid epidemic, which has only grown more deadly inside of this insidious pandemic.”