CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Nearly $36 million more has been collected as the result of lawsuits against drug companies, according to information from Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

They announced settlements with two prescription drug wholesalers: AmerisourceBergen, which will pay $16 million, and Cardinal Health, which will pay $20 million, pushing the total paid to West Virginia to more than $47 million.

The settlements resolve allegations by the state related to the distribution of controlled substances to West Virginia licensed and DEA registered dispensers in the state.

The Attorney General’s Office brought the lawsuit along with two departments in Tomblin’s administration: Health and Human Resources, and Military Affairs and Public Safety.

The plaintiffs say they intend to use their portions of settlement funds to continue fighting drug abuse in West Virginia. Specifically, the money will be used to support drug abuse prevention and treatment.

“We’ve taken steps to combat drug abuse in West Virginia with distributors, prescribers and pharmacists, and the money from this settlement will help us expand those efforts with additional treatment and long-term recovery options,” Tomblin said in a news release.

AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health both deny the allegations of the plaintiffs’ complaint, as well as any wrongdoing.

Terms require AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health to pay the full, agreed-upon amounts by March 1.