Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that Virginia has received approximately $108.4 million in opioid settlement funds from various manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy chains. Miyares expressed gratitude for the efforts of his Consumer Protection team, stating, "Virginia just received over $100 million in opioid settlement funds that will enable us to more effectively prevent, reduce, and treat addiction at a localized level."
The funds stem from settlements with major pharmaceutical distributors, drug manufacturers, and retail pharmacy chains. The breakdown of the settlements includes payments from distributors Cencora and Cardinal Health, who prepaid their scheduled installments for 2027 at a discount in 2024. Moreover, settlements were also reached with drug manufacturers Teva and Allergan, and retail pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, with Virginia receiving its first payments from these agreements in 2023.
The Opioid Abatement Authority will oversee the distribution of these funds to localities and state agencies through a grant-application process. Virginia has now amassed over $1.1 billion in opioid settlement funds, marking a significant milestone in the state's efforts to combat the opioid crisis.