Berrien County will receive $4 million as a result of a settlement between several states and the makers of opioid painkillers. Berrien County Health Officer Guy Miller tells us Michigan is receiving $800 million from the settlement with multiple drug makers. He spoke to county commissioners this week about planning for the county’s share.
“As we’re getting this funding, it’s about brining it to our community’s awareness,” Miller said. “How do we manage this opioid epidemic, this crisis that we’ve been in?”
Miller says the funding should be used for education, prevention, and treatment.
“Are opioids a problem? Yes, opioids are a problem. Substance use disorders are a problem, and they’re growing. The number of deaths we’ve had in the past three years has increased and are projected to be even higher again with the number of overdose deaths we’ve had in Berrien County.”
The county’s $4 million share will be paid out over 18 years, working out to about $250,000 per year. Miller says it can be used to combat opioid abuse and deaths, noting Berrien County is likely to have about 40 overdose deaths by the end of 2022. It ranks 14th out of Michigan’s 83 counties.
