An Act To Implement a Consent Judgment Regarding OxyContin Abuse

Sec. 1. Transfer of funds for prescription drug abuse prevention purposes. The Treasurer of State shall transfer $719,000 from the General Fund as follows:

1. Administration. One hundred fifty thousand dollars to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse for the purpose of administering a prescription drug monitoring program; and

2. Grants. Five hundred sixty-nine thousand dollars to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse for the purpose of issuing grants to private nonprofit organizations to provide services related to preventing prescription drug abuse, addiction or diversion, including, but not limited to, education, outreach, prevention or monitoring programs.

summary

The State of Maine through its Attorney General has received funds from Purdue Pharma, Inc., Purdue Pharma L.P. and the Purdue Frederick Company, Inc. pursuant to a consent judgment entered by the Kennebec County Superior Court in Docket No. CV-07-143. This judgment settled a civil action regarding Purdue's promotional and marketing practices for the prescription drug OxyContin. The consent judgment directed these funds to programs for prescription drug abuse prevention. The funds received by the Attorney General were transferred to the General Fund without designation for any purpose. This bill directs that those funds be directed to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance Abuse for the purpose of funding prescription drug abuse prevention or monitoring programs.