A historic lawsuit against various pharmaceutical companies ended with a multi-billion dollar opioid settlement, and now $2.6 billion is heading to various addiction and recovery programs across New York state.

Binghamton-based Truth Pharm has worked to reduce the harms caused by substance use for nearly 10 years.

Founder Alexis Pleus knows firsthand the dangers overprescription can have on a family. She lost her oldest son Jeffrey nearly 10 years ago following an addiction to opioids prescribed by his doctor.

"When my son died in 2014, they were still calling this a heroin epidemic. And the reality is, at that time, more people were dying from pharmaceutical overdoses than from heroin," said Pleus.

Unfortunately, her story would become one of many across the nation. It’s estimated that drug overdoses took the lives of more than 47,000 people the same year she lost her son. Fast forward to last year, and that number jumped to over 110,000.

That led counties like Broome to launch a historic lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies.

"We knew that the pharmaceutical industry was responsible, and so to finally have the nation wake up and come around and recognize the importance of holding them accountable has been a really big deal," said Pleus.

Counties across the state followed, leading to a settlement of $2.6 billion. Today, that money is finally making its way to agencies like Truth Pharm across the state.

A total of $8 million in settlement money will be distributed to Broome County organizations over the next several years. Those who have already received grants will not be eligible.

Pleus’ organization received $150,000 to continue serving the community. And it couldn't have come at a better time.

"There have been times in the past year we've considered closing our door to direct services because we didn't have funding for those direct services. And I can't imagine where the people would go without us," said Pleus.

Truth Pharm has been supporting drop-ins and those living with addictions for nearly 10 years. Demand is only growing. The hope is this funding is just the beginning in helping it continue serving those who need it.

"Very early on, one of our rainmakers was like, 'Well, if we fight for these lawsuits, what is the money going to go to? We want it to go to the right things.' And this is what we wanted it to go," said Pleus.