HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2021-036-RESOLUTION Opioid Litigation Memorandum of agreement RES - 2021 -036
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A RESOLUTION BY ORANGE COUNTY
APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) BETWEEN THE STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON PROCEEDS RELATING TO THE
SETTLEMENT OF OPIOID LITIGATION
WHEREAS , as of 2019 , the opioid epidemic had taken the lives of more than 16 , 500 North
Carolinians , torn families apart, and ravaged communities from the mountains to the coast; and
WHEREAS , the COVID - 19 pandemic has compounded the opioid crisis , increasing levels of
drug misuse, addiction, and overdose death; and
WHEREAS , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the total " economic
burden " of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $ 78 . 5 billion a year, including the
costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement; and
WHEREAS , the opioid epidemic has taken the lives of Orange County residents and cost
Orange County a substantial amount of funds expended to combat the effects of the opioid epidemic ;
and
WHEREAS , certain counties and municipalities in North Carolina joined with thousands of
local governments across the country to file lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical
distribution companies and hold those companies accountable for their misconduct; and
WHEREAS , representatives of local North Carolina governments , the North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners , and the North Carolina Department of Justice have negotiated
and prepared a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide for the equitable distribution of any
proceeds from a settlement of national opioid litigation to the State of North Carolina and to individual
local governments ; and
WHEREAS , Local Governments and the State of North Carolina anticipate a settlement in the
national opioid litigation to be forthcoming ; and
WHEREAS , by signing onto the MOA, the state and local governments maximize North
Carolina ' s share of opioid settlement funds to ensure the needed resources reach communities , once a
negotiation is finalized, as quickly, effectively, and directly as possible ; and
WHEREAS , it is advantageous to all North Carolinians for local governments , including
Orange County and its citizens , to sign onto the MOA and demonstrate solidarity in response to the
opioid epidemic , and to maximize the share of opioid settlement funds received both in the state and this
county to help abate the harm ; and
WHEREAS , the MOA directs substantial resources over multiple years to local governments on
the front lines of the opioid epidemic while ensuring that these resources are used in an effective way to
address the crisis .
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , Orange County hereby approves the Memorandum
of Agreement between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the
Settlement of Opioid Litigation, and any subsequent settlement funds that may come into North Carolina
as a result of the opioid crisis . Furthermore , Orange County authorizes the County Manager to take such
measures as necessary to comply with the terms of the MOA and receive any settlement funds , including
executing any documents related to the allocation of opioid settlement funds and settlement of lawsuits
related to this matter . Be it further resolved copies of this resolution and the signed MOA be sent to
opioiddocsncdoj . ov as well as forwarded to the North Carolina Association of County
Commissioners at co �ge
Adopted this the 1st day of June , 2021 .
Renee Price , Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST .
Laura Jensen
Clerk to the Board
( SEAL)
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