California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a nationwide agreement in principle that will require opioid manufacturer Indivior to pay up to $86 million nationally. The attorneys general allege that Indivior failed to properly monitor and report suspicious opioid orders, leading to the inappropriate prescription and use of its buprenorphine-based products, which exacerbated the opioid epidemic rather than treating it.
The settlement, if finalized, will provide up to $86 million over five years to participating states for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.
“No amount of money could ever undo the pain that has been deeply felt by countless families impacted by this epidemic,” said Attorney General Bonta. “At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to holding pharmaceutical manufacturers, like Indivior, accountable for their role in fueling this crisis through their greed and willful misconduct. Today’s announcement builds on that commitment in our continued fight for justice and relief for Californians. I am proud of the work put in by my team and by our partners across the nation in making this settlement possible.”
The settlement was negotiated by the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in coordination with an executive committee consisting of the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized his commitment to protecting California communities and combating the opioid crisis. To date, the California Department of Justice has secured over $48 billion through nationwide settlements related to opioids. This includes up to $4.25 billion specifically allocated for California.