A recent settlement took place concerning prescription opioids and how it is impacting the epidemic with these drugs.

The state of Iowa was part of a settlement with five major pharmaceutical companies in an opioid lawsuit. Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn said to the Board of Supervisors during their August 9th meeting that the settlement was for $26 billion, which will be paid over eight years. He reported the first two years, Iowa will receive $20-25 million, with about 15-percent to be given to all 99-counties, including Greene County.

For Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams, he tells Raccoon Valley Radio that opioids and other prescription drugs is the third largest issue he sees in the county, next to marijuana and methamphetamine. He shares his opinion of why prescription drugs continue to be an issue in the county.

“Most of the time when we’re seizing drugs, somebody will have a 90-day supply. Most of our burglaries are for prescription drugs. They go in and steal them. So when you get a 90-day supply or a 120-day, whatever it may be and people find out, it’s basically a blinking light saying, ‘Here it is.’ I think just the amount of pills that are being issued out now, whereas back in the day or even 10 years ago, you got a 10- or a 20-day supply and that was it. Where now you can get a six-month supply if you want it.”

Williams points out the law enforcement center accepts expired or unwanted prescription drugs all year round. These items can be dropped off with no questions asked and are then turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency to be destroyed.