Opioid Abatement Council (OAC)

In response to their role in fueling the opioid crisis, Washington State and local governments filed lawsuits against several companies that were involved in opioid manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. The lawsuits, filed in 2022, are being settled or finalized in a bankruptcy court. The Washington State Attorney General's website has more information about these settlements.

Most of these settlement and bankruptcy funds will be shared by Washington State and its counties and cities with populations over 10,000. The payout periods for these funds differ by case and can last between 1 year and 17 years. To learn more about how the settlement funds will be shared and distributed between the Washington municipalities, read the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) linked here:

The One Washington Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (PDF)

The North Sound BH ASO established an Opioid Abatement Council (OAC) in 2023 comprised of representatives from all North Sound Counties, as well as representatives from several cities within the region. The OAC includes BH-ASO representatives. The North Sound OAC meets quarterly to review settlement updates and spending allocations.

North Sound Counties Opioid / Settlement sites

• Opioid Settlement FAQ’s | Island County, WA

• Opioid Remediation Plan | San Juan County, WA

• Skagit County's Opioid Crisis
• Working Together to Reduce Substance Use

• https://www.everettwa.gov/3246/Opioid-Response

• County Moves Forward with Fentanyl Operations Plan
• Whatcom Overdose Prevention - Opioid & Fentanyl Overdose Reduction
• Opioid use disorder can happen to anyone | Whatcom Has Hope

Opioid Settlement Trackers

• National Settlement Tracker
• Global Settlement Tracker

State Opioid and Overdose Response (SOOR) plan

1. Prevent opioid misuse
2. Identify and treat substance use disorder
3. Ensure and improve the health and wellness of individuals that use drugs
4. Use data to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor illness, injury and death, and evaluate interventions
5. Support individuals in recovery

Resources

• Washington Recovery Help Line
  For 24-hour assistance for substance use disorder or mental health challenges, call the help line at 1.866.789.1511. Other support & resources are available.
• WA Opioid Settlement Funds Facts (PDF)
• Opioid Data Washington
• Opioid Solutions Center | National Association of Counties
• OAC of King County, Washington
• North Carolina Opioid Settlements  (for reference)