Baltimore City is pressing for a long-term investment in recovery, prevention, and public health to repair the damage done by the opioid crisis.

According to a Baltimore Banner article, Baltimore City is seeking $5.2 billion from the court to fund a 15-year abatement plan. The City recently won a $266 million judgment against two major drug distributors. This second phase of the trial focuses on future solutions, not past harm. The plan outlines funding for mobile treatment services, overdose response teams, housing and reentry support, and services for children and families affected by opioid use disorder.

From the article:

Damages are really for what happened in the past, said Bruce Poole, an attorney in Hagerstown who helped handle opioid lawsuits for several Western Maryland communities. Abatement is: ‘Make it stop.’

While courts in other states have questioned how much companies should pay to address long-term community harm, Baltimore City’s case could become a model for local governments nationwide. If successful, the city’s strategy may help shape how states and counties pursue accountability and resources for public health needs that continue to grow.