HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-18 RESOLUTION BY THE HCBOC AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH SECONDARY OPIOID MANUFACTURERSRESOLUTION NO. 2025-18
Harnett
C O U N T Y
NORTH CAROLINA
RESOLUTION BY THE HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH SECONDARY
OPIOID MANUFACTURERS, PURDUE PHARMA LP, AND THE SACKLER FAMILY,
AND APPROVING THE THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDS BETWEEN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS ON PROCEEDS RELATING TO THE SETTLEMENT OF OPIOID
LITIGATION
WHEREAS more than 41,500 North Carolinians lost their lives to a drug overdose from
2000-2023.
WHEREAS the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated the total
economic burden of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States to be $78.5 billion a
year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice
involvement;
WHEREAS, Harnett County's drug overdose death rate in 2024 was 31.8 per 100,000
residents, which represents 45 total deaths for that year, and the drug overdose emergency
department visit rate in 2024 was 101.8 trips per 100,000 residents, which represents 144 total ED
visits for that year; and
WHEREAS certain counties and municipalities in North Carolina joined with thousands
of local governments across the country to file lawsuits against opioid companies, manufacturers,
pharmaceutical distributors, and chain drug stores to hold those companies accountable for their
misconduct;
WHEREAS settlements (collectively "the Secondary Opioid Manufacturer Settlements")
have been reached in litigation against Alvogen, Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Apotex
Corp., Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. f/k/a West -Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp., Indivior Inc.,
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., Viatris Inc., and Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc., as well
as their subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and directors (collectively "the Secondary Opioid
Manufacturer Defendants") named in the Secondary Opioid Manufacturer Settlements;
WHEREAS representatives of local North Carolina governments, the North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners, and the North Carolina Department of Justice have
negotiated and prepared a Third Supplemental Agreement for Additional Funds ("SAAF-3") to
provide for the equitable distribution of the proceeds of the Secondary Opioid Manufacturer
Settlements;
WHEREAS settlements have been reached, under Purdue Pharma L.P.'s bankruptcy
plan, whereby Purdue Pharma L.P. ("Purdue") and members of the Sackler family will pay
approximately $7.4 billion to settle opioid claims across the nation, which settlements would be
subject in North Carolina to the equitable distribution of the proceeds as set forth in the
Memorandum of Agreement ("MOA") which has already been approved by this Board;
WHEREAS by joining the Secondary Opioid Manufacturer Settlements, approving the
SAAF-3, and approving the bankruptcy plan and settlements relating to Purdue and the Sackler
family, the state and local governments maximize North Carolina's share of opioid settlement
funds to ensure the needed resources reach communities, as quickly, effectively, and directly as
possible;
WHEREAS it is advantageous to all North Carolinians for local governments, including
Harnett County and its residents, to sign onto the Secondary Opioid Manufacturer Settlements,
SAAF-3, and approving the bankruptcy plan and settlements relating to Purdue and the Sackler
family, in order to demonstrate solidarity in response to the opioid overdose crisis, and to
maximize the share of opioid settlement funds received both in the State and this County to help
abate the harm; and
WHEREAS both the MOA and SAAF-3 directs substantial resources over multiple years
to local governments on the front lines of the opioid overdose epidemic while ensuring that these
resources are used in an effective way to address the crisis.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Harnett County Board of
Commissioners hereby authorizes the County Manager to execute the necessary documents to
enter into opioid settlement agreements, as set forth herein, with the Secondary Opioid
Manufacturer Defendants, to execute the SAAF-3, and to approve the bankruptcy plan and
settlement agreements relating to Purdue and the Sackler family, and to provide such documents
to Rubris, the Implementation Administrator.
Adopted this 2nd day of September 2025.
Matthew B. Nicol, Chairman
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
�Meliss��apps,
Co the Board
(SEAL)