Marc Elrich: “Montgomery County will receive more than $6 million from legal settlements reached with drug companies…”

In February, the Office of the County Attorney for Montgomery County filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Northern District of California against McKinsey and Company, Inc. for the company’s role in marketing opioids to the public and medical providers. The suit alleged that the McKinsey defendants served as marketing advisors to several opioid manufacturers, and in this role, helped counter the “emotional message” from the families of overdose victims and advised Purdue on how to “turbocharge” the sale of opioids. To read the full complaint, please click here. County Executive Marc Elrich stated that
“Montgomery County will receive more than $6 million from legal settlements reached with drug companies that unleashed opioids and fentanyl on our country.”

Elrich also wrote the following in his weekly update, “I remain frustrated that these drug companies got away with simply paying fines and settlements. The individuals who approved these terrible acts are held accountable—in jail despite their actions leading to thousands of deaths.

Given the damage that these drug companies have done to the community, this amount of money is a pittance compared to the mountain of harm and grief they have caused, not to mention the cost to manage these problems. These funds will be distributed over several years and will be used to provide more assistance for crisis situations.

We have allocated $1.6 million of the settlement money over the next three years. This will be dedicated to prevention and harm reduction initiatives, grief support and specialized help tailored for adolescents. Additionally, a portion of the funds will be utilized to hire additional professionals such as school nurses, therapists and program managers, thereby expanding our support network. We recognize the need for this assistance across various areas from schools to jails to outpatient clinics.

When it comes to positively influencing our children and keeping them away from trouble, two factors stand out: they’re peers and mentors. This is why during the summer, our Department of Health and Human Services and our Department of Recreation actively support the “Summer of Peace” initiative. By providing young individuals with opportunities to interact in safe and enjoyable environments, we can greatly impact their lives not only during the summer, but also in the long run. We have already organized events in Germantown and White Oak. Please look at this poster to learn about upcoming events.”