Purdue Pharma to be sentenced in criminal opioids case, allowing settlement money to flow
Summary
Purdue Pharma will be sentenced to pay $225 million to the Justice Department to settle thousands of lawsuits about its role in the opioid crisis. As part of a deal, the Sackler family who owns Purdue will pay up to $7 billion over 15 years, mostly to government programs fighting opioid addiction.Key Facts
- Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty in 2020 to three federal criminal charges about opioid sales practices.
- The company admitted it failed to stop its painkillers from being sold illegally on the black market.
- Purdue also paid doctors and a medical records company to encourage more opioid prescriptions.
- A judge will order Purdue to forfeit $225 million to the Justice Department.
- In the plea deal, the government waived $5.3 billion in criminal fines and $2.8 billion in civil penalties.
- The Sackler family will pay up to $7 billion over 15 years to state, local, and tribal governments and some victims.
- The settlement is one of the largest and includes money for both government programs and some victims directly.
- Total opioid-related settlements with drug companies in recent years exceed $50 billion, mostly for overdose prevention.
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