Berrien County is getting a larger opioid settlement payout than previously expected.

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved an agreement to accept roughly $2 million more in settlement funds over the next 18 years. County Administrator Brian Dissette told us the money is the county’s portion of a payout to the state as part of a lawsuit against several makers of opioids.

The county must use the money to fight addiction.

“ The state of Michigan through the Attorney General’s office has made abundantly clear that these dollars were set aside very intentionally and it is to combat addiction issues and we have to be thoughtful in how we use the dollars, we have to be thoughtful in are we getting good return on the investment,” Dissette said.

The county was previou

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