Amid rising charges of opioid dependancy and deaths in D.C. and nationwide, District of Columbia Legal professional Common Brian L. Schwalb has introduced that attorneys common from all eligible states and U.S. territories have agreed to a $7.4 billion nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma and its homeowners, the Sackler household.
Officers mentioned the Sacklers have indicated they intend to maneuver ahead with the settlement, which they anticipate to resolve nationwide litigation associated to Purdue’s and the Sacklers’ roles within the opioid disaster.
The District is anticipated to obtain greater than $21 million over the following two years as a part of the settlement.
“This settlement holds Purdue Pharma and the Sackler household financially accountable for the harm they precipitated,” Schwalb mentioned in a information launch. “Their conduct precipitated in depth hurt to communities within the District and throughout the nation.”
Below the Sacklers’ possession, Purdue Pharma manufactured and marketed opioid medicines for many years. Officers mentioned the corporate promoted its opioid merchandise as protected and appropriate for long-term, high-dosage use, which public officers allege contributed to widespread dependancy and overdose deaths. The settlement will completely finish the Sackler household’s involvement in Purdue and forestall them from promoting opioids within the U.S.
The $7.4 billion settlement is the most important settlement thus far involving corporations and people related to the opioid epidemic. Many of the funds can be distributed within the first three years. The Sacklers are set to pay $1.5 billion, and Purdue about $900 million initially. Subsequent funds will embrace $500 million after one yr, one other $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
The District will obtain its full share of $19.58 million within the first cost, with roughly $1.5 million in legal professional charges anticipated to be paid the next yr.
As with earlier opioid settlements, last approval and distribution of the funds can be topic to a chapter courtroom resolution. A listening to is scheduled later this month.
Together with this newest settlement, the Workplace of the Legal professional Common mentioned it has secured almost $104 million for the District from settlements with corporations related to the opioid disaster. Officers said that the funds can be allotted for prevention, therapy, hurt discount, and restoration efforts.
Between 2021 and 2024, 1,740 opioid-related deaths occurred in Washington, D.C., and it was affecting Black Washingtonians probably the most.
“Opioid deaths within the District fall most closely amongst Black males and residents of Wards 5, 7, and eight, underscoring that this public well being disaster raises well being fairness and systemic issues,” in keeping with a 2023 launch from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s workplace.
After 5 consecutive years of will increase, the variety of deadly opioid overdoses within the District fell to 344 in 2024, down from 516 in 2023.
Within the first two months of 2025, there have been 41 opioid-related fatalities, a 27% lower in comparison with the identical interval within the earlier yr.
In accordance with a information launch, the District’s Opioid Abatement Advisory Fee, established in 2022, continues to offer suggestions on the way to successfully make the most of settlement funds to handle the disaster regionally.
“Purdue Pharma and the Sackler household knew full effectively how addictive and harmful their opioid medication have been but falsely marketed these medication as protected,” Schwalb remarked. “Their misleading conduct, whereas producing billions of {dollars} of company income and shareholder distributions, exacted a large human toll on communities throughout the District and nation.”
