South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that the state is expected to receive approximately $10.1 million as part of a nationwide $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family. The agreement, signed by 55 Attorneys General, resolves litigation accusing the company and family of fueling the national opioid epidemic.
“South Dakota families have suffered because of this company’s involvement in the opioid drug crisis,” Jackley said. “The funds are important, but no amount of money will ever compensate families for the pain they have suffered watching loved ones deal with opioid abuse.”
The state’s share of the settlement will be paid out over 15 years and deposited into the National Opioid Settlement Fund, administered by the South Dakota Department of Social Services. These funds will be directed toward addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery programs throughout the state.
With this latest settlement, South Dakota has secured approximately $54 million from various companies implicated in the opioid epidemic. The funds aim to mitigate the ongoing public health crisis caused by opioid misuse.
Purdue Pharma, under the Sackler family’s ownership, manufactured and aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, significantly contributing to the country’s worst drug crisis. The settlement also ends the Sacklers’ control over Purdue and their ability to distribute opioids in the U.S.
Attorneys General from a broad coalition of states and territories, including Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Montana, New York, Texas, Washington, and many others, joined in the settlement to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its role in the epidemic.
The resolution marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to address the devastating impact of opioid addiction across the nation.
By: BSH staff