SEATTLE, Wash.-Johnson & Johnson has paid Washington State $123.34 million as part of an opioid lawsuit.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced the lump sum payment that must be split between state and local governments and used to fight the opioid epidemic on June 18.
A spreadsheet on how the money will be distributed to Counties and Cities throughout the state is available online through the AG’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit in 2020 against companies, including Johnson and Johnson, that fueled the opioid crisis.
According to the AG’s Office, Johnson & Johnson aggressively marketed opioids and overstated their effectiveness in treating pain, while understating the risk of addiction.
50 percent of the payment, about $61 million will go to local governments throughout Washington, according to a press release from the AG’s Office on the payment. The other half of the money will go to the State Legislature.
While funds must be used to address the opioid epidemic, local governments will determine how to best use their shares.
The state Legislature will determine how the remaining funds are used throughout the state in accordance with Washington’s Opioid Response Plan.
Local Counties and Cities receiving funds.
Kittitas County: $1,995,789.86Ellensburg: $494,754.09Yakima County: $10,035,819.96Grandview: $274,652.33Sunnyside: $628,120.68Yakima: $3,136,989.70Benton County: $7,686,052.36Kennewick: $2,803,249.04Richland: $2,462,204.21West Richland: $237,774.18Franklin County: $1,739,843.57Pasco: $2,214,407
