Council votes to join Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement; city expected to receive ~ $27,000

The West Lafayette Common Council on Sept. 2 adopted Resolution 18-20-25, authorizing participation in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy settlement. City attorneys and outside counsel recommended joining the nationwide settlement and the council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote with nine yeas and no nays.

City staff described the settlement as part of larger, multi-state and national agreements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The controller and the mayor said the city’s expected share is an estimate in the low tens of thousands — staff cited a figure in the roughly $27,000 range tied to the city’s population share — and noted the funds will be dedicated to opioid‑related programs. The mayor and staff said the city already uses prior opioid settlement funds for services including a police crisis intervention and social services specialist; city staff said similar uses would be consistent with settlement restrictions.

During the meeting a resident asked whether settlement funds go directly to affected patients. City staff responded that many award categories are restricted to direct services addressing opioid use disorder rather than direct cash payments to individuals, and that local governments jointly administer grant processes and awards to organizations providing treatment, prevention and recovery services; the resolution and related attachments include a Schedule E list of permitted program categories.

The council voted unanimously to join the settlement process; staff said the mayor or city attorney would be authorized to sign the agreement documents on behalf of the city.