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As part of a national opioid settlement agreement announced Monday by Attorney General Todd Rokita., Indiana stands to receive up to $100 million for addiction and recovery-related programs over the next several years.
In a news release, Rokita said he and 55 other attorneys general had secured a $7.4 billion settlement with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, marking the largest settlement to date holding individuals accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.
A federal court ruling in 2023 cleared the way for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s settlement of thousands of legal claims over the toll of opioids.
Rokita said the agreement addresses the devastating impact of Purdue’s aggressive marketing of opioid products under the Sacklers’ ownership, which fueled the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.
“This settlement – along with the other ones we have produced over the last four years – are a monumental victory for Hoosiers and communities nationwide devastated by the opioid epidemic,” Rokita said in a news release. “The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma profited for decades while pushing addictive drugs that tore apart families and lives. This agreement ends the family’s control, bans them from selling opioids in the U.S., and delivers critical funds to rebuild our communities through addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs.”
Under the terms of the settlement, Indiana’s state and local governments will receive up to $100 million over the next 15 years to support efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
The majority of the settlement funds will be distributed within the first three years, with the Sacklers contributing $1.5 billion and Purdue providing approximately $900 million in the initial payment.
Additional payments include $500 million after one year, $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
The settlement permanently ends the Sackler family’s control of Purdue Pharma and prohibits them from participating in the opioid industry in the United States. The funds will bolster critical programs to address addiction, support recovery, and prevent further harm in communities across Indiana and the nation.
Like prior opioid settlements, the settlement with Purdue and the Sacklers will involve resolution of legal claims by state and local governments. The local government sign-on and voting solicitation process for this settlement moving forward will be contingent on bankruptcy court approval. A hearing is scheduled on that matter in the coming days.
“This is about accountability and justice,” Rokita added. “We’re ensuring that those responsible for this crisis are held accountable and that the resources are directed to where they’re needed most – our communities working to heal and rebuild.”
Rokita is joined in securing this settlement in principle by the attorneys general of all 50 U.S. states, plus American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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