Latest news with #Opioid
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A look at the latest bills Gov. Mills signed into law
Gov. Janet Mills signs the first bill of the legislative session, LD1, into law. The measure provides resources and relief for communities impacted by extreme weather. (Photo courtesy of Office of Gov. Mills) Maine lawmakers have been busy voting on bills that will eventually make their way to the governor's desk. Each week, the clerk of the House of Representatives publishes a report of the bills that Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law and those that she has allowed to become law without the endorsement of her signature. Those reports have become more robust as work has picked up in the chambers with dozens of bills receiving passage and enactment votes each session in recent weeks. On May 16, Mills signed 10 bills into law, according to the most recent report published Friday. The new statutes add reporting requirements for how the state spends opioid settlement funds and allow law enforcement to share information with school officials about a juvenile when there is credible evidence regarding the use of a firearm or dangerous weapon. While most of the new laws won't take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the session, one bill (LD 448) included specific language to take effect upon the governor's signature. That statute reinstates caps for dental provider licensing and permit fees. The newly enacted laws include: LD 448: An Act Regarding the Establishment of Fees and Fee Caps for Dental Provider Licensing and Permits LD 379: An Act Regarding Confidential Information Gathered for Forest Fire Emergency Response and Planning LD 386: An Act Regarding Information That May Be Shared by Law Enforcement Entities with a School Superintendent or a Principal LD 404: An Act Regarding the Confidentiality of Certain Lottery Winner Identities LD 650: An Act to Support Municipal Public Health LD 1545: An Act to Clarify the Maximum Value That a Small Estate May Be Under the Maine Uniform Probate Code to Permit Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit LD 224: An Act to Expand the Definition of 'Terrorism' in the Laws Governing the Maine Emergency Management Agency LD 31: An Act Regarding School Enrollment for Military-connected Students LD 110: An Act to Require Reporting on the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds by Certain Municipalities and County Governments LD 141: An Act to Provide Limited Immunity to Maine Human Rights Commission Mediators A few days later, LD 321, which made May Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Month, became law without Mills' signature. The governor also chose not to endorse LD 472. That legislation directs multiple agencies to examine restoring passenger rail from Boston to Montreal. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate panel kickstarts debate on spending opioid settlement money
DES MOINES, (Iowa Capital Dispatch) — An Iowa Senate subcommittee moved forward a bill Monday allocating $42 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to combat the impacts of the opioid crisis, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reports. Senate Study Bill 1226 would provide a $12 million grant for Community and Family Resources, an addiction recovery and treatment center in Fort Dodge and $30 million to Iowa HHS for efforts to 'abate the opioid crisis in the state,' taking into account recommendations from the seven district behavioral health advisory councils throughout the state. Iowa state universities propose tuition increases for all students Moving forward, the bill states 75% of unobligated money from the settlement fund will go to HHS and 25% will go to the Attorney General's office, to be disbursed 'in accordance with the requirements of the master settlement agreements.' Each year, the two entities will have to submit their recommendations on appropriating the funds for the next fiscal year to lawmakers as a bill, again with consideration for regional behavioral health advisory council recommendations. Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said this bill will not necessarily be the final version of the legislation, but that he wanted to get the conversation started early to ensure that opioid settlement funding is distributed. 'We've been in negotiations a little bit with the House,' Kraayenbrink said. 'And I just think, rather than holding on and waiting for additional negotiations, we need to get a bill (moved) … and hopefully come to a resolution on what's going to happen.' There is currently more than $56 million in Iowa's Opioid Settlement Fund, received as settlement in lawsuits brought by states against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Iowa will receive more than $325 million from these settlements between fiscal years 2021 through 2039, according to the AG's office. The funds are split, with half going to local governments and half to the state — with both levels of government obligated to use at least 85% of the funds received for opioid addiction treatment and prevention services. Lawmakers set up the Opioid Settlement Fund in 2022 to collect and distribute this money given to the state. However, the Legislature has not dispersed any of the fund's money in the past two sessions — disagreements between the House and Senate on how to allocate these funds were not resolved before the session ended in 2024. Fertilizer byproduct leak causes fish kill in Fort Dodge creek, DNR says The House had moved in 2024 to designate money to go to specific nonprofits — $3 million to Youth and Shelter Services and $8 million to Community and Family Resources. In the Senate proposal this year, $12 million was allocated for Community and Family Resources. Executive Director Michelle De La Riva told lawmakers at the subcommittee meeting the funding would go toward a new campus providing resources like a detox program and adolescent residential program. When asked if other programs could be given direct funding in the 2025 bill, Kraayenbrink said more allocations could be made as negotiations occur between the two chambers. 'I don't know if I really see it being exactly like this when it's done, but this is just to get the momentum going,' he said. Amy Campbell with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association praised the measure for including input from the district behavioral health advisory councils in the distribution of the funds. She said these councils will be able to see funding needs in their communities as disbursement begins from local governments and through the state. 'We think one of the good parts of this bill is actually getting that local input from the regional advisory board, since they will be on the ground and they're going to start seeing the gaps as the new system kind of comes online,' Campbell said. 'And I think they're in a good spot to be able to provide advice on that.' The House had offered an amendment creating a grant program for settlement funds through HHS in addition to establishing an advisory council to oversee and make recommendations about funding these grants each year. The advisory council was not approved by the Senate, leaving the settlement funds undistributed last year. Kraayenbrink said he was not sure if House members would pursue this oversight component again, but said he wanted to ensure that negotiations begin on the Opioid Settlement Fund. 'I just felt, from a prudent standpoint of the Senate, is that I just can't sit and watch nothing happen again,' Kraayenbrink said. 'It's time that we at least move, and kind of force the conversation to be had.' Income tax increases may become more difficult with Iowa Senate passing constitutional amendment Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said she supported starting the conversation on the settlement fund. 'I'm glad to see that we have this bill before us, because Iowans have been waiting too long with this money stuck in the freezer,' Petersen said. '… These dollars need to be getting out the door to help Iowans. We lost over 1,000 Iowans in the past five years, and we know people are struggling.' The bill moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Senate panel kickstarts debate on spending opioid settlement money
Iowa lawmakers are trying again pass legislation designating how to spend money from the state's Opioid Settlement Fund. (Photo by Darwin Brandis/iStock Getty Images Plus) A Senate subcommittee moved forward a bill Monday allocating $42 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to combat the impacts of the opioid crisis. Senate Study Bill 1226 would provide a $12 million grant for Community and Family Resources, an addiction recovery and treatment center in Fort Dodge and $30 million to Iowa HHS for efforts to 'abate the opioid crisis in the state,' taking into account recommendations from the seven district behavioral health advisory councils throughout the state. Moving forward, the bill states 75% of unobligated money from the settlement fund will go to HHS and 25% will go to the Attorney General's office, to be disbursed 'in accordance with the requirements of the master settlement agreements.' Each year, the two entities will have to submit their recommendations on appropriating the funds for the next fiscal year to lawmakers as a bill, again with consideration for regional behavioral health advisory council recommendations. Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, said this bill will not necessarily be the final version of the legislation, but that he wanted to get the conversation started early to ensure that opioid settlement funding is distributed. 'We've been in negotiations a little bit with the House,' Kraayenbrink said. 'And I just think, rather than holding on and waiting for additional negotiations, we need to get a bill (moved) … and hopefully come to a resolution on what's going to happen.' There is currently more than $56 million in Iowa's Opioid Settlement Fund, received as settlement in lawsuits brought by states against opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Iowa will receive more than $325 million from these settlements between fiscal years 2021 through 2039, according to the AG's office. The funds are split, with half going to local governments and half to the state — with both levels of government obligated to use at least 85% of the funds received for opioid addiction treatment and prevention services. Lawmakers set up the Opioid Settlement Fund in 2022 to collect and distribute this money given to the state. However, the Legislature has not dispersed any of the fund's money in the past two sessions — disagreements between the House and Senate on how to allocate these funds were not resolved before the session ended in 2024. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The House had moved in 2024 to designate money to go to specific nonprofits — $3 million to Youth and Shelter Services and $8 million to Community and Family Resources. In the Senate proposal this year, $12 million was allocated for Community and Family Resources. Executive Director Michelle De La Riva told lawmakers at the subcommittee meeting the funding would go toward a new campus providing resources like a detox program and adolescent residential program. When asked if other programs could be given direct funding in the 2025 bill, Kraayenbrink said more allocations could be made as negotiations occur between the two chambers. 'I don't know if I really see it being exactly like this when it's done, but this is just to get the momentum going,' he said. Amy Campbell with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association praised the measure for including input from the district behavioral health advisory councils in the distribution of the funds. She said these councils will be able to see funding needs in their communities as disbursement begins from local governments and through the state. 'We think one of the good parts of this bill is actually getting that local input from the regional advisory board, since they will be on the ground and they're going to start seeing the gaps as the new system kind of comes online,' Campbell said. 'And I think they're in a good spot to be able to provide advice on that.' The House had offered an amendment creating a grant program for settlement funds through HHS in addition to establishing an advisory council to oversee and make recommendations about funding these grants each year. The advisory council was not approved by the Senate, leaving the settlement funds undistributed last year. Kraayenbrink said he was not sure if House members would pursue this oversight component again, but said he wanted to ensure that negotiations begin on the Opioid Settlement Fund. 'I just felt, from a prudent standpoint of the Senate, is that I just can't sit and watch nothing happen again,' Kraayenbrink said. 'It's time that we at least move, and kind of force the conversation to be had.' Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, said she supported starting the conversation on the settlement fund. 'I'm glad to see that we have this bill before us, because Iowans have been waiting too long with this money stuck in the freezer,' Petersen said. '… These dollars need to be getting out the door to help Iowans. We lost over 1,000 Iowans in the past five years, and we know people are struggling.' The bill moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Overdose deaths down in SC for first time in 11 years
SOUTH CAROLINA (WSAV) – For the first time in more than a decade, the South Carolina Department of Health said the latest numbers show a drop in overdose deaths, according to the 2023 Drug Overdose Deaths Report. There were 2,157 drug overdose deaths in South Carolina in 2023. That was a 6.1% decrease from the 2,296 drug overdose deaths in 2022. Before 2023, the last time South Carolina saw a decrease in drug overdose deaths was 2012. 'This data reflects our hard work and shows our state heading in the right direction. While we celebrate this achievement, we still have a long way to go in our efforts to reduce drug overdose deaths in our state,' said Dr. Edward Simmer, interim DPH director. In Beaufort County, 33 people overdosed in 2023. That is down nine from 2022. Jasper County's death toll rose by eight to 34. Hampton County's increased from three to five. Colleton County's deaths doubled from 12 to 24. Despite the numbers not being perfect, Dr. Simmer said the efforts in local counties have been key to helping stem the tide of overdose deaths in the State. 'Local groups often have the trust of the people in their area,' said Dr. Simmer. 'They know what the community is like. They know what the community needs. They know how to communicate with that community. So absolutely, we are very focused on working with local groups all across the state. But, you know, one county at a time, one even smaller area. And I think that's ultimately how we get to the root of this problem.' Nationally, including South Carolina, the synthetic opioid fentanyl continued to be largely responsible for a vast number of overdose deaths. Fentanyl was involved in 1,550 of the state's 2,157 overdose deaths in 2023. 'The cross-sector coordination between public safety and health services has been essential to reducing overdoses and saving lives,' said Sara Goldsby, South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) director. 'Implementing evidence-based strategies that enhance prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts yields results. The supplemental federal funds that South Carolina has received in recent years have been instrumental in expanding access to treatment and recovery services, increasing prevention initiatives, and strengthening community-based support systems. These resources have allowed us to take a more comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose crisis and improving outcomes for individuals and families across the state.' DPH and DAODAS reminded all South Carolinians that resources are available for anyone experiencing substance use issues. DPH offers Opioid Overdose (OD) Safety Kits at health departments across the state. Each kit contains two doses of the opioid-antidote medication naloxone (Narcan), five fentanyl test strips, five xylazine test strips, educational materials on how to use everything included and guidance for how to identify an opioid overdose. The naloxone in the kits is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, potentially saving a person's life. The fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, in different types of drugs. Xylazine test strips can detect the presence of xylazine, which is a harmful sedative that can create painful wounds on the body and can also cause death. Both fentanyl and Xylazine are often added to other drugs without the user's knowledge, making them even more dangerous. 'We now give that (Narcan) to every law enforcement agency that wants it,' says Dr Simmer. 'We give it to many schools all at no cost. And we also make it available to the public through our health department. Anybody can come into our health department, ask for a dose or two doses of naloxone, and we'll simply give it to no questions at no cost. Unfortunately, we still see a fair number of opioid overdoses, but we're seeing less of them being fatal, more people recovering. And I think that's a significant reason why you're seeing especially the drop in the fentanyl deaths in this report.' Call your local DPH health department to check the availability of Opioid OD Safety Kits before pick up. The safety kits are free, and you are not required to answer any questions. To find free naloxone doses and fentanyl test strips available at other Community Distributors, visit For services to treat addiction, visit or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
21-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Purdue Pharma Files New Bankruptcy Plan—Includes Up To $7 Billion From Sacklers
Purdue Pharma submitted a new bankruptcy plan Tuesday, which will give its creditors more than $7.4 billion in cash—including up to $7 billion in payments from the billionaire Sackler family—to help compensate the victims of the opioid crisis nine months after the Supreme Court struck down the company's previous settlement plan. If all creditors opt-in Purdue's settlement in the Opioid lawsuits could total $7.4 billion. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Purdue made a formal Chapter 11 filing before a federal bankruptcy court in New York and outlined its plan, where the drugmaker would be dissolved and a new 'public benefit company' would absorb its assets. The billionaire Sackler family will have no ownership stake in the new entity—which will work to 'abate the opioid crisis and improve public health,' and be run by a board of directors appointed by the states who sued the company. The new proposal will allow creditors to opt in to receive their settlements—which could total $7.4 billion if everyone does—or opt out and reserve their right to sue the members of the Sackler family. If all creditors opt in, the Sacklers will pay around $6.5 billion in installments over the next 15 years—starting with an upfront $1.5 billion payment the day the plan takes effect. The Sacklers could contribute an additional $500 million to the settlement if their earnings from the sale of their international pharmaceutical companies cross a 'certain value,' the company added. Purdue will contribute all its assets, including $900 million of cash, as part of the settlement. Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . How Does Purdue's New Settlement Plan Differ From The Last One? The earlier bankruptcy plan would have seen the Sackler family pay $6 billion in settlements to creditors—including government, institutions and individuals suing them—and in return, they would be shielded from civil liability over the opioid crisis going forward. Last June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to dismiss this plan—which was first reached in 2022 and later upheld by an appeals court. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion, which said, 'Nothing in present law authorizes the Sackler discharge.' Under the new plan, creditors who opt out of the settlement can still sue the Sacklers. In its statement, the company said it expects its new plan 'will receive support from the overwhelming majority of its creditors.' According to our estimates, the Sackler family's net worth stood at $5.2 billion in February last year. This is a steep drop from $10.8 billion in 2020. The Sacklers exited the company's board in 2018 and, according to Purdue, 'have had no involvement in Purdue since that time.' Key Background Purdue Pharma, manufacturer of the prescription painkiller opioid OxyContin, and the Sacklers—who formerly owned and ran the company—have been key targets of criticism and lawsuits linked to the opioid epidemic. After being sued by several states and victims, the company filed for bankruptcy in 2019. In its bankruptcy filing, the company proposed a settlement with the plaintiffs that would have seen the Sacklers pay $3 billion and give up ownership. An updated settlement in 2021 raised the amount paid by the Sacklers to $4.5 billion, but this was opposed by the states suing the company and later scrapped by an appeals court that year. The previous settlement, which was approved by lower courts before being dismissed by the Supreme Court, had raised the Sacklers' payout to $6 billion. Despite being involved in the settlements, the billionaire family has stated they acted 'lawfully in all respects' and OxyContin 'unexpectedly became part of the opioid crisis that has brought grief and loss to far too many families and communities.' Big Number $850 million. That is the total amount that will be directly compensated to individual victims of the opioid crisis as part of the settlement plan. This includes people who received OxyContin prescriptions and later became addicted and babies born with withdrawal symptoms after being exposed to the drug in the womb. Supreme Court Kills Purdue Pharma Settlement That Would Have Shielded Sacklers From Liability (Forbes) What The Supreme Court's Purdue Pharma Decision Means For The Sackler Family Fortune (Forbes)
