Opioid lawsuits: Sackler family agree final $6bn civil settlement with US states

The Sackler family, billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma who are widely blamed for helping to spark the US opioid epidemic with dishonest marketing of their opioid OxyContin, have agreed a final settlement with US states seeking damages, after raising their offer from $4.3bn to $6bn.1

The deal brings on board nine states who had rejected the previous offer, and shields the family from further litigation, though not from any criminal charges. The money will fund addiction treatments and the purchase of the overdose drug naloxone. There will also be compensation of up to $48 000 for affected people.

The Sacklers will be required to attend a further court hearing where victims will give testimony on their experiences. …