Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Jan. 5 that 10 more Pennsylvania counties have signed on to the historic national opioid settlement, bringing the total to 60 out of 67 counties across the commonwealth.

Those 10 counties include Northampton, Blair, Centre, Crawford, Cumberland, Lycoming, Northumberland, Pike, Somerset and Sullivan.

“I am encouraged to see so many counties signing on to this historic settlement that will bring millions of dollars in resources as soon as next year to combat this crisis. There is still time for the remaining local governments to join, and I urge them to do so. This settlement will give communities the ability and resources to save lives now,” Shapiro said.

The $26 billion global settlement with Cardinal, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen - the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors - and Johnson & Johnson was announced in July 2021. The national sign-on deadline for local governments was recently extended from Jan. 2 to Jan. 26, providing a grace period for local governments to hold necessary meetings in order to vote on joining the settlement. This grace period does not impact the timeline for money to start flowing to participating states and local governments.

“The opioid epidemic has destroyed families and communities. It’s dashed the bright futures of loved ones. In their memory and in their honor, we can provide help and opportunities to those struggling now. The opioid settlement led by Attorney General Shapiro gives us hope and renews our mission to heal together. The settlement enables Centre County and so many other rural communities across the commonwealth to deliver targeted prevention, enhanced treatment and deeper compassion to those who need it most. Let’s never doubt Pennsylvania’s resiliency and determination to help those in need,” said Michael Pipe, chair of Centre County Board of Commissioners.

While it is up to local governments who have signed on to the settlement to decide where the funds will ultimately be allocated, the settlement stipulates the funds received must be used to combat the opioid crisis. A list of approved opioid remediation uses can be found in exhibit E of the Janssen settlement agreement.

The remaining seven counties and outstanding subdivisions had until Jan. 26 to sign on and were urged to do so.

The following counties have joined the settlement agreement: Northampton, Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland and York.