HARRISBURG, PA — A historic $7.4 billion settlement has been reached with Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family over their role in the ongoing opioid epidemic, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced this week. Pending court approval, the agreement will deliver substantial funding to communities impacted by the crisis and permanently ends the Sacklers’ involvement in the opioid business.
The settlement includes approximately $6.5 billion to be paid by the Sacklers over 15 years, while Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, will pay nearly $900 million in the early stages of the agreement. A significant portion of the funds will be distributed within the first three years, with initial payments totaling $1.5 billion from the Sacklers, followed by subsequent installments. Pennsylvania expects to receive up to $212 million over the course of the agreement, which will be allocated toward opioid addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
“No dollar amount could ever replace what has been lost due to the opioid epidemic, but this settlement will go a long way in bolstering treatment resources and helping Pennsylvanians achieve recovery,” Attorney General Sunday said.
He emphasized the role Purdue played in the crisis, stating, “This epidemic, no doubt, was fueled by Purdue Pharma’s manufacturing and deceptive marketing of OxyContin, a highly potent and addictive drug. Dependency on the drug ruined countless lives, while the Sackler family and Purdue made more than $35 billion from its distribution, profiting off of the suffering of others.”
This agreement follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that overturned a prior settlement. Attorney General Sunday, joined by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 14 other states, negotiated the terms of the settlement, continuing efforts to hold the Sacklers accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.
If approved, the settlement will also make public over 30 million documents related to Purdue’s opioid business, providing transparency about the company’s practices. Documents linked to previous legal agreements around compliance will also be included, and key information will become public after six years under the settlement terms.
The deal marks the end of the Sackler family’s control of Purdue Pharma, which will now be overseen by a board of trustees in consultation with creditors. The company will also be prohibited from marketing opioids or engaging in lobbying efforts.
Members of the settlement agreement include multiple heirs of Purdue founders Raymond and Mortimer Sackler, their associated trusts, advisors, and other family members. The funds collected will be distributed among participating states, local governments, affected individuals, and other entities involved in legal actions against Purdue and the Sacklers.
Attorney General Dave Sunday and his colleagues from New York, California, Connecticut, and other states emphasized the importance of justice and prevention as they pledged to continue fighting the opioid crisis. The settlement represents one of the largest financial settlements related to the epidemic to date, ensuring significant funds will be directed toward rebuilding communities and empowering individuals affected by addiction.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.