National Distributors and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson Settlement

In January 2022, Georgia joined opioid litigation brought by states and local subdivisions. The suit named the three largest pharmaceutical distributors: McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen. It also named manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson. Georgia will receive a combined $636 million from these settlements, known as the National Distributor Settlement and Janssen/J&J Settlement, respectively. The National Distributor Settlement will be paid over 18 years. The Janssen/J&J Settlement will be paid over 9 years.

On May 18, 2023, Governor Kemp created the Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee (GOSAC) by Executive Order. GOSAC consults with and makes recommendations to the Trustee of the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust. Its recommendations cover how the State allocates funds from the National Distributors and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson settlements. GOSAC will consist of eight members and one non-voting chairperson. The Governor appoints four members. The State's local governments appoint the other four, including one representative from the Community Service Boards.

State Appointed Members:

  • Evan Meyers, Chairman
  • Cassandra Price
  • Dr. Chris Rustin
  • Gary Sisk
  • Grant Thomas

Local Government Appointed Members:

  • Betty Cason
  • Claiborne "Clay" Davis
  • David A. Kidd
  • Edward Reynolds

Please see the State Opioid Abatement site for information on the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust and grant application process.

Additional Materials:

Information on the National Distributor and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson Settlement  (PDF, 599.52 KB)

McKinsey Settlement

In February 2021, Georgia joined a settlement with McKinsey & Company. The settlement awarded the state $13 million. Governor Brian P. Kemp allocated these funds to fight opioid misuse in Georgia. The Department of Law received a share of these funds. Additionally, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities received funds. The funds will expand Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) availability and increase detoxification capacity. They will also promote stigma reduction. Finally, they will increase naloxone access for emergency service providers and expand naloxone training for community providers.

Breakdown of Recommendations:

Expand investment into MAT providers

MAT uses FDA-approved medications along with counseling, behavioral therapies, and social support. This whole-patient approach treats substance use and opioid use disorders. Benefits of MAT include reducing illicit drug use, disease rates, and overdose events in patients. Across the criminal justice system, MAT has also reduced criminal activity and arrests. It has lowered probation revocation and reincarceration too. DBHDD has expanded MAT programs statewide using State Targeted Response (STR) and State Opioid Response (SOR) grant funds. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides those grants. While DBHDD currently contracts with 24 MAT providers, gaps in access to services still exist.

$4,750,000 will let DBHDD expand funding for MAT providers. This includes providers without a current DBHDD contract. They must already have the training, staff capacity, and ability to offer MAT. DBHDD intends to also utilize funding to ensure sustainability of MAT programs over a three-to-four-year time period.

Enhance capacity for detoxification services

DBHDD contracts with three providers for medically monitored residential withdrawal management, also called detoxification services. Individuals receive them when a crisis stabilization unit bed is unavailable or is not the right level of care. Detoxification provides medical oversight to manage withdrawal safely. It serves people who have stopped using alcohol and certain drugs, specifically opiates. $3,250,000 will let DBHDD contract for detoxification beds with several existing providers. It will also fund system capacity across the state. More beds will reduce the number of people waiting for treatment. They will also improve each person's chances of successful recovery.

Implement statewide stigma reduction and opioid abuse public awareness campaign

Stigma surrounding opioid use disorder (OUD) discourages individuals struggling with OUD from accessing services or choosing to work towards recovery.

$2,064,000 will fund a two-year pilot program at DBHDD. The program will be a statewide public awareness campaign to reduce stigma around opioid use disorder. The campaign will include formative research, stakeholder outreach and recruitment, campaign execution, and evaluation.

Provide naloxone kits to Emergency Medical Service providers

Emergency Medical Service providers (EMS) personnel indicated to DPH the ongoing need for naloxone kits. $2,017,929 will provide for DPH to distribute approximately 326,000 naloxone kits to EMS providers.

Expand naloxone training and education to service providers

$1,000,000 will support DBHDD's current SOR-funded training program. The training covers naloxone administration and safety for community-based treatment and recovery providers. DBHDD will teach providers about addiction as a brain disease and naloxone administration. It will also cover creating and sustaining cultures of recovery. Training will also bring together providers from all levels of the substance use treatment continuum of care. The goal is better service linkages and cooperation between providers.

Provide naloxone kits to Law Enforcement Officers

$718,378 will let the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) distribute about 11,600 naloxone kits. Law enforcement officers receive a kit after they complete a naloxone training course. The course covers the opioid crisis and the medical effects of opioids and naloxone treatment. It also teaches officers how to administer naloxone.