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SLO, Paso Robles join settlements in national opioid case

April 6, 2023

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

The cities of San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles decided on Tuesday to join a nationally negotiated settlement with pharmaceutical companies that will allow the local municipalities to receive funds for combating the opioid epidemic. [New Times]

In Nov. 2018, SLO County joined a national class action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. Then in 2022, the county signed onto the first round of national settlements. The county received about $16.5 million from the initial settlements. 

On Tuesday, the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles city councils voted to participate in the second round of settlements with pharmaceutical companies. The settlements are expected to bring more than $1 million and $500,000 respectively to SLO and Paso Robles, which would be passed down to the two cities by San Luis Obispo County.

Deputy SLO County Counsel Brian Stack said the settlement funds are intended to remediate overdoses and provide treatments to individuals suffering from opioid use disorder, possibly diverting them away from the criminal justice system. The funds could go toward efforts including a syringe exchange program and Narcan-related treatments.


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I just can’t figure out, why my hospital bill is so high…


4

Something thats actually killing people and not just causing typical flu/cold symptoms? No one cares about that, until there’s money at stake apparently :/


3

How about kicking some of this money down to some of the smaller non-profits like the Alano Club, North County Connection, Casa Solana or Cambria Connection? Nope. More money pissed away by barely existent Government programs with vague missions, and bright-shiny mega non-profits who’s Directors enjoy six figure salaries. No Government funds for those smaller non-profits who really know how to stretch a buck, and are on the front lines daily actually helping addicts with mostly volunteer staff. Nothing beneficial going on here. Just another show trial to allow the Government to extort some money from big pharma.


1

Sure. The disbursement of these funds will be used wisely and honestly.

Typical political ruse.


23

Syringe exchange programs only serve to enable drug abuse. The county would be better off not receiving the funds.


14