Statement by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Proposal to Divert Opioid Settlement Funds

Statement by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on Proposal to Divert Opioid Settlement Funds: “Last night, I learned — to my great disappointment — that the budget the Legislature is considering would deplete our hard-won opioid settlement dollars by sending $45 million to hospital systems for uses that have not been identified. My office fought for years against companies who profited off the deaths and addiction of thousands upon thousands of New Jerseyans. When we announced these settlements, I stood with Governor Murphy and promised these settlement dollars would go towards evidence-based solutions to help those struggling with opioid addiction — not to pad the State’s coffers. We were fully mindful of not repeating the mistakes made with the state’s tobacco settlement funds, which should have been used exclusively to address damage caused by cigarettes. And just two weeks ago, the New Jersey Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council, which was created by law two years ago and on which my office sits, released a strategic plan for the uses of these funds, which this appropriation ignores.

I take no position on whether the hospitals should receive funds, but these settlement funds are not general revenues for the State. They are the result of some of the most significant lawsuits ever filed by Attorneys General across this country to force companies to pay back the blood money that they stole in fueling the opioid epidemic. Spending this money in this way is a slap in the face to every family who lost a loved one in this devastating crisis, which continues to claim the lives of thousands of New Jerseyans each year.

I urge the Legislature and Governor Murphy to reject this proposal and direct these funds to go to their intended purpose: to help the people of New Jersey who are struggling with addiction. Rest assured, if they do not, my office will be carefully scrutinizing these hospital systems to make sure every single dollar is spent within the terms of the settlements we fought for years to obtain.”