montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that the state will receive $2.5 million as part of a nationwide $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic.
The funds, which will be used for opioid abatement efforts across Montana, stem from a multistate agreement resolving claims that the companies played a role in the widespread distribution and marketing of addictive prescription painkillers. All 50 states and U.S. territories are set to receive a share of the national settlement.
“As Attorney General, I will continue to hold those who fueled the opioid crisis accountable,” Knudsen said. “Opioids have taken lives and destroyed communities across Montana and the entire country. We will put this money to good use to save lives and stop addiction.”
Montana’s share of the settlement will be directed toward a variety of opioid response programs, including treatment for opioid use disorder, the distribution of life-saving overdose reversal drugs like Narcan to first responders, and expansion of drug treatment courts for individuals with opioid-related substance abuse issues.
