All 50 States and U.S. Territories Agree to Historic Deal Supporting Addiction Treatment and Prevention
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In a historic agreement, all 50 U.S. states and territories have reached a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, marking the largest deal of its kind in the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Announced yesterday, the settlement seeks to resolve thousands of lawsuits against Purdue Pharma over its role in the opioid crisis — particularly surrounding its flagship drug OxyContin, a potent prescription painkiller introduced in the 1990s.
If approved, the funds will be directed toward state-run addiction treatment and prevention programs, while still allowing for future litigation related to the ongoing opioid crisis.
🔍 Background: Purdue Pharma and the Opioid Epidemic
Purdue Pharma, controlled by the Sackler family, has long been accused of aggressively marketing OxyContin while downplaying its addictive risks. The opioid has been widely blamed for helping ignite a nationwide epidemic of prescription drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Since 1999, the opioid crisis has contributed to more than 645,000 deaths across the United States.
In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for bankruptcy in an effort to settle mounting lawsuits from state and local governments, healthcare providers, and affected families.
⚖️ Supreme Court Overturns Prior Settlement
In a major legal development, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a previous $6 billion deal in 2023, citing that bankruptcy courts cannot shield companies from future civil liability. The earlier deal had granted immunity to Purdue and the Sackler family from further lawsuits — a controversial provision struck down by the high court.
The new $7.4 billion settlement corrects that issue, removing immunity for future lawsuits and paving the way for Purdue to complete its bankruptcy proceedings.
💰 How the Settlement Funds Will Be Used
The money from the settlement will be distributed among states and U.S. territories to support a wide range of opioid crisis response efforts, including:
-
Addiction treatment programs
-
Substance abuse prevention initiatives
-
Public education campaigns
-
Support for affected families and communities
Officials across the country have called this a major victory for public health, although many note that accountability for the crisis is far from over.
📌 What Comes Next
While the deal must still receive final court approval, it represents a critical turning point in the decades-long legal battle against one of the central players in the opioid epidemic. Legal experts say that this deal could set a precedent for future corporate accountability cases involving public health harms.
As the country continues to combat the opioid crisis, this settlement provides significant funding and legal clarity for states and communities still grappling with its devastating impact.
Follow the Ridgewood blog has a brand-new new X account, we tweet good sh$t
https://twitter.com/TRBNJNews
https://truthsocial.com/@theridgewoodblog
https://mewe.com/jamesfoytlin.74/posts
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate #currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories
As usual, the states and territories will blow the money. It’s what they do.