Each county in Pennsylvania is slated to receive a portion of a $1 billion settlement for drug treatment and prevention. The funding resulted from negotiations among four companies, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and attorneys general from other states. Catherine Dunn and Felicia Gans Sobey covered the disbursements and their intended uses for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Counties are expected to receive the funds as early as April. The allocation formula ensures that each county that signed up will receive at least $1 million.
According to Shapiro’s office, Bucks County will receive $45.5 million.
The settlement has been criticized by some for being too low and too slow. The latter objection — voiced by Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner — sees the 18-year payout window as ineffectively long. While the city ultimately decided to take part in the settlement, Krasner has chosen not to and will continue pursuing a separate lawsuit.
Philadelphia County will receive the highest payout of $186 million. Bucks County’s $45.5 million is the second-highest outlay among the collar counties, which received disbursements as follows:
- Delaware County: $48.7 million
- Montgomery County: $35.1 million
- Chester County will get $19.7 million
Read more about the opioid settlement in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
