Opioid Epidemic


The Opioid Epidemic in Nevada

The use, misuse, and abuse of opioids is one of the deadliest drug epidemics in United States history. Opioids are a class of highly addictive synthetic drugs prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain and are derived from opium-pharmacologically similar to heroin.

Opioid addiction touches every corner of the United States and has affected Nevada more severely than other states.

    On January 24, 2019, the Governor signed a Declaration and on May 2, 2019, the State of Nevada entered into a contract for legal representation for the investigation and litigation of individuals and companies responsible for impacts, harms, and risks of the opioids epidemic on Nevada and its residents.  On March 9, 2021, the State of Nevada filed a Second Amended Complaint against numerous defendants.

      On August 9, 2021, the State of Nevada, all Nevada counties, and all cities and districts with opioid related litigation, entered into an agreement to fairly and equitably allocate opioid recoveries.  This agreement is the One Nevada Agreement on Allocation of Opioid Recoveries.

        In 2021, the State of Nevada passed legislation creating a program and fund known as the Fund for a Resilient Nevada within the Department of Health and Human Services, in which the State of Nevada's share of opioid recoveries would be deposited and used to mitigate the harms, risks, and impacts of the opioid epidemic.  The Fund for a Resilient Nevada program has worked to establish priorities/goals for funding programs and services from the State's portion of the recoveries.  Additional information about the Fund for a Resilient Nevada program, its priorities/goals, notice of funding opportunities, and other related information can be found on the Fund for a Resilient Nevada website.

          Since April 2022, the State of Nevada, and signatories to the One Nevada Agreement, have had recoveries of more than $1 billion, which funds are dedicated to being used to mitigate the opioid epidemic in Nevada.  The Fund for a Resilient Nevada program also created a dashboard which displays the dollar amount and related information for recoveries, allocation of recoveries, and funding of priorities/goals.  

            Declaration of Findings

              Contingency Fee Contract

                Second Amended Complaint

                  One Nevada Agreement on Opioid Recoveries