Commission Votes to Join Sandoz and Purdue Opioid Settlements

The Spalding County Board of Commissioners approved participation in settlements with Sandoz Inc. and Purdue Pharma LP related to opioid litigation. County attorney told the board that the companies have reached global settlements in civil litigation and that jurisdictions must opt into the settlements to receive money. The board voted 5-0 to approve participation. At the meeting a board member framed the settlements as a significant source of funding for local opioid-response programs and noted the broader state-level distribution work to direct funds toward treatment and recovery services. No specific allocation of expected settlement funds to county programs was decided at the meeting; the board approved joining the settlements to preserve the county’s right to receive distributions.