Meetings Ahead
Most meetings in Wellfleet are remote only, but some are held in person. Go to www.wellfleet-ma.gov/calendar and click on the meeting you want to watch, then follow the instructions on the agenda.
Monday, April 3
- Dredging Task Force, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4
- Select Board, Adult Community Center & Zoom, 7 p.m.
Conversation Starter
Opioid Settlement
The town has “opted in” to participate in a new opioid settlement that will provide up to $20 billion to states and local governments for addiction and recovery services.
Wellfleet could receive up to $112,000, Town Administrator Rich Waldo told the select board on March 16. Eighty-five percent of that money must go directly to abatement strategies for the opioid epidemic, according to the settlement’s website, nationalopioidsettlement.com.
The settlement was reached in late 2022 with pharmacy chains CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart, as well as manufacturers Allergen and Teva. The money will go to state and local governments over 15 years. CVS will pay $5 billion over 10 years; Walgreens will pay $5.2 billion over 15 years; and Walmart will pay $3 billion over three years. Teva will pay $4.3 billion over six years, and Allergen will pay $2.4 billion over seven years.
An article on this year’s town meeting warrant would establish an opioid settlement stabilization fund, which would receive payments from the settlement.
Wellfleet will also receive $54,050 over 18 years from a separate opioid settlement reached in 2021 with three pharmaceutical distributors, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen. They are paying a total of $21 billion to jurisdictions nationwide.
Between 2017 and 2021, there were 16 confirmed opioid overdose deaths on the Outer Cape: eight in Eastham, four in Provincetown, and four in Wellfleet. —Sam Pollak
