Delaware

Delaware Lawmakers Consider, Again, Putting a Per-Pill Tax on Opioids

The new opioid tax would be used to create a fund for drug treatment programs and research.

What to Know

  • Re-introduced legislation would impose a new tax on drug manufacturers who sell opioid pain-killers in Delaware.
  • The legislation would impose a per-pill tax. Officials estimate that the tax would raise about $8 million over three years.
  • The new opioid tax would be used to create a fund for drug treatment programs & research. Officials estimate the tax would raise about $8M.

Democratic lawmakers have re-introduced legislation imposing a new tax on drug manufacturers who sell opioid pain-killers in Delaware.

The bill introduced Tuesday is similar to a measure that was introduced last year but failed to get a floor vote.

The legislation would impose a per-pill tax on prescription opioids ranging from a few cents to a dollar or more, based on their strength and whether they are brand-name or generic.

The tax would be used to create a fund for drug treatment programs and research.

Officials estimate that the tax would raise about $8 million over three years.

Meanwhile, Delaware and several other states are suing opioid manufacturers for allegedly misleading doctors and consumers about the dangers of their products.

Copyright The Associated Press
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