NEW YORK: Nevada has agreed to join a proposed nationwide settlement worth up to US$26 billion resolving claims that three large U.S. drug distributors and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson fueled a deadly opioid epidemic, the state's attorney general said on Tuesday.

       Nevada was one of a handful of states that until now was not participating in the landmark accord that would resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits against J&J, McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc

       The announcement came after the settlement's backers agreed to extend to Jan. 26 a deadline for cities and counties in states that backed the proposal to opt-in to the settlements, citing the potential for more states to join.

       Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford in a statement said he was optimistic the state's local governments would join the settlements, allowing the state to receive more than $285 million.

       "There is no question that the opioid epidemic has devastated Nevada and money is needed now to address comprehensive statewide remediation," he said.

       AmerisourceBergen declined to comment. Other companies did not respond to requests for comment.

       More than 3,300 lawsuits largely by state and local governments have been filed - Reuters