Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a $7.4 billion settlement in principle with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, Inc. The agreement addresses their role in the opioid crisis, which has led to widespread addiction and overdose deaths across the United States.
Purdue Pharma, under the leadership of the Sacklers, was responsible for creating and marketing opioid products that contributed significantly to the epidemic. This settlement will end their control over Purdue and their ability to sell opioids in the U.S. It also allocates funds to communities nationwide over 15 years for opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs.
The settlement is noted as the largest of its kind involving individuals linked to the opioid crisis. It follows a previous multistate settlement overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2024.
Attorney General Paxton stated, “For years, I have aggressively worked to hold Purdue Pharma and other corporations accountable for their roles in creating and exacerbating the deadly opioid crisis that harmed so many Americans.” He added that while nothing can undo the damage caused, this settlement will provide essential resources for Texans to combat further opioid abuse.
Paxton has been active nationally in holding companies accountable for their involvement in the opioid crisis. His efforts have resulted in over $3 billion in settlements with major corporations like Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, among others.
This recent settlement was secured with assistance from attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.