HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-16 RESOLUTION BY HC BOC AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH REMNANT OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS DISPENSERRESOLUTION NO. 2026-16
Harnett
�--1 COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
RESOLUTION BY THE HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH REMNANT
OPIOID DISTRIBUTORS/DISPENSER DEFENDANTS, ASSOCIATED PHARMACIES,
INC., J M SMITH CORPORATION, LOUISIANA WHOLESALE DRUG COMPANY,
INC., MORRIS AND DICKSON CO., NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL WHOLESALE
DRUG COMPANY, INC., AND UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC.
WHEREAS more than 44,500 North Carolinians lost their lives to a drug overdose from
2000-2024.
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 27.4 per 100,000
residents, which represents 40 total deaths for that year, and the drug overdose emergency
department visit rate in 2024 was 106.1 trips per 100,000 residents, which represents 155 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; and
WHEREAS a national opioid settlement with six opioid distributors/dispensers
(collectively "the Remnant Defendants Settlement") have been reached in litigation against
Associated Pharmacies, Inc (and American Associated Pharmacies); J M Smith Corporation;
Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Inc.; Morris and Dickson Co.; North Carolina Mutual
Wholesale Drug Company, Inc.; and United Natural Foods, Inc (including its subsidiaries
SuperValu and Advantage Logistics), as well as their subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and
directors (collectively "the Remnant Defendants") named in the Opioid Manufacturer
Settlements; and
WHEREAS, the Remnant Defendants Settlement will result in the defendants paying
approximately $97 million to settle opioid claims across the nation, which settlements would be
subject to the equitable distribution of the proceeds as set forth in the Remnant Defendants
Settlement Agreement; and
WHEREAS it is advantageous to all North Carolinians for local governments, including
Harnett County and its residents, to sign onto the Remnant Defendants Settlement 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 the Remnant Defendants Settlement directs substantial resources 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 the Remnant Defendants Settlement, as set forth herein, and to provide such
documents to Rubris, the Implementation Administrator.
Adopted this 14th day of April 2026.
Duncan E. Jaggers, ai
Harnett County Board of o sioners
ATTEST:
Mel�aCa�pps,lert�the oard
(SEAL)