All 50 states, Washington D.C., and four U.S. territories have agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement with the makers of OxyContin, announced on Monday. This includes the Sackler family, who were heavily involved in the company’s operations.
The settlement comes as a resolution to the numerous lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, the company responsible for the creation and marketing of opioids that have contributed to the addiction and overdose crisis across the nation.
Attorneys general from 55 states and territories have joined forces in this landmark agreement. As part of the settlement, the Sackler family will relinquish ownership of Purdue Pharma and will be prohibited from engaging in the production, sale, or promotion of opioids within the United States.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia led the team that negotiated the settlement, which marks the largest of its kind involving the opioid crisis, officials said.
“As Pennsylvania families and communities suffered during an unprecedented addiction crisis, Purdue and the Sacklers reaped the mammoth profits from their products,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement. “This monumental settlement achieves the top priority of getting as much money as quickly as possible to prevention, treatment, and recovery programs across the Commonwealth. My office will continue engagement with municipal leaders to ensure millions of dollars reach every corner of the state.”
In this Feb. 19, 2013, file photo, OxyContin pills are shown at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vt.
Toby Talbot/AP, FILE
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