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Mountain View is looking to take part in a national opioid settlement with six pharmaceutical distributors. While the proposed settlement payment totals nearly $100 million, the city’s share is expected to be less than $5,000.
The City Council will vote on a recommendation at its Tuesday meeting to authorize Mountain View’s participation in the settlement.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, six regional distributors of opioids would pay roughly $97.6 million to states, counties and cities harmed by the opioid epidemic. Mountain View would get 0.0044600508%, or $4,338, according to a city staff report.
That one-time payment would go towards opioid abatement activities, as stipulated by the settlement terms. It is possible that the city will give the money to Santa Clara County, which provides a range of services related to opioid treatment, including counseling and recovery services, the report said.
However, the $4,338 could be used to support city initiatives, like providing education to law enforcement officers and first responders about safe practices for handling fentanyl and other drugs.
The six companies involved in the settlement are: Associated Pharmacies, J. M. Smith Corporation, Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company, Morris and Dickson Co., North Carolina Mutual Wholesale Drug Company and United Natural Foods.
In the past, the city has received opioid settlement payments from other pharmaceutical companies, distributors, manufacturers and chains, including CVS, Walgreens, WalMart, Kroger Co. and Purdue Pharma, the city staff report said.
Probably cost more in attorney fees to review the agreement than we will win back.