Opioid Advisory Council holds first meeting; $1.4M expected to be paid by summer 2022; Attorney General Camacho launches opioid settlement resource page
April 14, 2022- Tamuning, Guam- The Opioid Advisory Council held its inaugural meeting to begin discussing how Guam can most effectively use the $11.9M in settlement funds secured by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to combat Guam’s drug problem. The $11.9M settlement is part of the larger $26B national settlement with three major pharmaceutical distributors - Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen and Johnson & Johnson- for their roles in the manufacturing and marketing of opioids.
The agreement represents the largest non-tobacco settlement in history.
“Investing in resources that help those struggling with addiction, substance abuse, and mental health issues is critical to building safer communities,” said Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho. “I am excited to work with the Council to develop the most effective way to use the millions of dollars our team has secured.”
Attorney General Camacho informed the Council that Guam is expected to receive $4.4M of the $11.9M over the next four years, with an estimated $1.4M expected by this summer. From 2026 through 2038, Guam is expected to receive anywhere from $524k to $1.1M each year. According to Guam law and the terms of the settlement agreements, these funds must be spent on prevention, abatement, and drug treatment efforts for opioid use disorder and any co-occurring Substance Use Disorder or Mental Health (SUD/MH) conditions.
This includes programs that support people struggling with addiction to opioids and methamphetamine, also known as “ice”; youth prevention programs; supporting people in treatment and recovery from OUD or co-occurring SUD/MH conditions through evidence-based programs and strategies; addressing the needs of criminal justice-involved persons who are involved in or are transitioning out of the justice system; addressing the needs of pregnant or parenting women, their families, and babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome; and preventing the misuse, over-prescribing and dispensing of opioids, and deaths from overdose.
Attorney General Camacho also announced the launch of a resource page, https://oagguam.org/roadtorecovery/, that includes information on the settlement agreements, a schedule of the release of funds, and other points of interest the Council acts on.
Late last year, the Guam Legislature passed “The Opioid Prevention and Treatment Act,” which Governor Leon Guerrero signed into law as Public Law 36-64. The Act establishes the Opioid Recovery Trust Fund to receive settlement proceeds and creates an advisory council to direct spending priorities.
Senator Amanda Shelton said, “The drug epidemic has taken lives and torn apart families on our island for far too long, and I am pleased to see the swift enactment of the Opioid Recovery Advisory Council. This is an important step forward to ensure settlement dollars are maximized to best serve our community. I have full confidence that the knowledge, expertise, and passion of those serving on the Opioid Recovery Council will guide us to repair and prevent further harm of drug abuse among our people.”
AG Camacho, Chairperson of the eleven-member Opioid Advisory Council, was joined by Speaker Therese Terlaje from the Guam Legislature, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center Director Therese Arriola, Guam Memorial Hospital Administrator Lilian Posadas, Mayor’s Council of Guam appointee Angel Sablan, Administrator for the Judiciary of Guam Kathleen Baird, and Bryan Hahn and Andrea Andrus from TOHGE, Inc. as the two members appointed by I Maga’hågan Guahan. Also sitting on the board is the Department of Public Health and Social Services director, the Public Defender Service Corporation executive director, and one other member appointed by the Legislature.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Shannon Taitano, Deputy Attorney General Fred Nishihira, and Assistant Attorney General Joseph Perez are handling the opioid litigation on behalf of the OAG.