After lengthy litigation between pharmaceutical companies, retailers and the state over the opioid crisis, the first of several financial settlements was reached last year. The settlement with four companies — Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured opioids, and pharmaceutical distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen — brings $641 million to New Jersey.  

Camden County is set to receive $32 million over 20 years from the settlement. The county’s board of commissioners, in conjunction with the state health department, has announced new and expanded mental health and substance use disorder services that will be paid for with $1.2 million in settlement funds.  

Camden County has been hit hard by the opioid crisis. It ranked second-highest among New Jersey counties for overdose deaths in 2022, with 354 deaths. 

“Just this past weekend, Camden County had three young children become the victims of inadvertent opioid exposure resulting in an overdose. But for the timely administration of life saving Naloxone, these children’s lives could have ended in tragedy,” said Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay. “The monetary settlement awarded to Camden County will go to the expansion of fatal overdose reduction, interdiction and prevention plans to save lives, especially the lives of our youth.”