New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an $86 million multistate settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Indivior for its role in exacerbating opioid addictions across New York and the nation. Indivior produced buprenorphine-based products intended to treat opioid use disorder, but these products have been misused, further fueling addiction.
Attorney General James, along with a coalition of attorneys general, alleges that Indivior targeted its sales towards dangerous prescribers, including doctors operating pill mills. The company also failed to monitor suspicious orders, resulting in inappropriate prescriptions and misuse of their products.
“When companies like Indivior exploit those in the thralls of addiction for profit, their behavior must be stopped,” said Attorney General James. “As a result of our work to hold Indivior accountable, they will end their destructive practices and provide new resources to invest in opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and education that will help save lives in New York. I will continue to ensure the companies that profited from this addiction crisis pay for the harm they perpetuated.”
The settlement will allocate $86 million over five years to participating states for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.
This agreement was negotiated by Attorney General James alongside the attorneys general of Illinois, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. An executive committee comprising attorneys general from California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont coordinated the effort.
In 2019, Attorney General James filed a significant lawsuit against opioid distributors and manufacturers for their role in the opioid epidemic. Since then she has recovered more than $2.7 billion for New York's opioid abatement efforts from various companies including Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceuticals Publicis Health Teva Pharmaceuticals Johnson & Johnson Mallinckrodt Allergan Endo McKesson Cardinal Health Amerisource Bergen.
Additionally Attorney General James has led multistate coalitions securing settlements worth billions with CVS Walgreens Walmart for failing to properly regulate opioid prescriptions She also co-led a coalition achieving more than $573 million — over $32 million designated for New York state — toward opioid treatment and abatement through an agreement with McKinsey & Company
Negotiation on behalf of New York involved First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy Special Counsel Monica Hanna Assistant Attorney General Matthew Conrad Assistant Attorney General Eve Woodin Data Scientist Ken Morales.