Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council is making the first payments from opioid lawsuit settlements to counties totaling more than $31.4 million. According to a press release, Cumberland County’s share is $294,694.36. Fentress County received over $115,000; Bledsoe almost $70,000; Morgan $123,000; Overton more than $118,00; Putnam over $350,000; Rhea $161,000; Roane over $300,000; White almost $139,000; and Van Buren a little over $28,000.
In accordance with terms of the Distributor and Janssen/J&J settlement agreements, 35-per-cent of proceeds went directly to county governments so that local leaders could direct spending on programs to address the effects of opioids on their citizens and communities. The remaining 65-per-cent of settlement dollars will be distributed through a competitive grant application process to be established the Opioid Abatement Council.