Trumbull County is set to receive $2.5 million from a nationwide $7.4 billion opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma and its former owners, the Sackler family.

The settlement ends the Sacklers’ control of the company—formerly a leading manufacturer of prescription painkillers like OxyContin—and distributes funds to communities severely affected by the opioid epidemic.

Trumbull County joined Lake County in pursuing a separate legal agreement after declining a previous offer. Commissioner Denny Malloy said holding out led to a better deal for residents.

“We held out and didn’t take the easy money,” Malloy said. “That got us a little more for our citizens.”

The funds will be distributed in two payments, with the first expected in October and the second in early 2026.

County leaders say the money will support agencies directly impacted by the crisis, including the sheriff’s department, 911 services, and treatment programs. Malloy emphasized that opioid addiction has caused widespread damage throughout the Valley.

“Addiction is a family event,” he said. “It affects the workplace, the family, the community. We need to heal those wounds and use this money the right way so we can move forward stronger.”

Preliminary plans for how the money will be used are underway, but final spending decisions are pending legal review and formal approval.

Commissioner Tony Bernard said prevention efforts, particularly among youth, will also be a priority.

“The goal is to start educating kids young,” Bernard said. “We have to give the sheriff what he needs to get into the schools and the community for prevention.”

The settlement also allows individual victims to sue Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. Roughly $850 million has been set aside nationwide for personal claims.

Commissioners say the funding can’t undo the damage caused by opioids but hope it provides a step toward healing for the entire community.