The revenue produced by the tax would fund drug addiction prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs across the state. Lawmakers have previously introduced similar legislation in several other states, including Connecticut, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
“California’s opioid epidemic has cost state taxpayers millions and the lives of too many of our sons and daughters,” said Mr. McCarty. “We must do more to help these individuals find hope and sobriety. This plan will provide counties with critical resources needed to curb the deadly cycle of opioid and heroin addiction in California.”
More than 2,000 Californians died of prescription opioid overdoses in 2014, according to the California Department of Public Health.
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