Delaware County will receive $3.5 million a year for 18 years from a $62 million settlement with drug makers to fight an ongoing opioid epidemic, writes Alex Rose for the Daily Times.

“The funding will be used to begin to tackle the devastating opioid epidemic affecting Delaware County residents, their loved ones, and our communities,” said County Council Chair Monica Taylor.

An interdepartmental and interdisciplinary task force will recommend to County Council short- and long-term uses for the money.

It will work with medical professionals on the county’s Board of Health, experts in recovery, and Delaware County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Lauren Footman.

The task force will present its first recommendations to the council next month.

Taylor said opioid addiction is in every municipality and at every economic level, affecting athletes, stay-at-home parents, executives, blue-collar workers, and veterans.  regardless of age, gender or race, she said.

“The only commonality is how swiftly and tragically the addiction takes over,” she said.

Last year, 197 county residents died from overdoses.

Delaware County was the first of the state’s 67 counties to file suit against 11 pharmaceutical distributors and their consulting physicians in 2017.

Read more at the Daily Times about Delaware County’s receiving millions in opioid settlement funds.

The PBS NewsHour takes a look at how the opioid settlement money will be used.