Purdue Pharma and Sackler Family Settle for $7.4 Billion in Opioid Crisis Lawsuit
Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family have reached a landmark $7.4 billion settlement with multiple states, including Utah, as part of a national resolution to the opioid crisis. Utah is set to receive $57 million from the agreement, which aims to alleviate the ongoing impact of opioid addiction in the state.
The settlement addresses longstanding allegations that Purdue Pharma aggressively marketed its opioid product, OxyContin, while downplaying its addictive nature. This has been highlighted by the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, which claims the Sacklers incentivized Utah prescribers with nearly $200,000 in gifts and payments. Data shows that opioid prescriptions soared by over 1 million from 2002 to 2015 in Utah, contributing to a spike in prescription drug deaths.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown emphasized the necessity of this settlement for families harmed by Purdue’s actions. The Sackler family is expected to contribute $6.5 billion over the next 15 years, while Purdue will pay the remaining $900 million post-bankruptcy. Utah’s portion will supplement previous settlements, funding essential resources to combat the opioid epidemic effectively.
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