Johnson & Johnson Opioid Settlement Finalized For $26B

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J&J Opioid Crisis Settlement Overview:

• Who: A $26 billion settlement that will provide payments to states, local governments and opioid epidemic victims has been finalized.
• Why: Opioid distributors and wholesalers have agreed to settle allegations they fueled the opioid epidemic in the United States.
• Where: Once finalized, the opioid settlement payments will be distributed throughout the United States.

Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors have finalized the $26 billion settlement over their alleged roles in the opioid crisis, clearing the way for that money to start flowing to states and local governments to mitigate opioid harm. 

On Friday, lawyers for Johnson & Johnson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson said they agreed to the settlement. 

The approval of the deal had been contingent on getting enough participation from a critical mass of state and local governments. The more states and local governments participate in the settlement means there are less that could still sue the companies for similar claims. 

Last month, an “unprecedented” number of local governments throughout the United States agreed to participate in the $26 billion opioid crisis settlement. 

The deadline to opt in to the opioid settlement was Jan. 26, and approximately 90% of local governments that were eligible to participate indicated they would do so.

Taken together, the settlements are the largest to date among the many opioid-related cases that have been playing out across the country. The funds will be directed at reversing the crisis in places that have been devastated by it, although they will not go directly to any families or individuals hurt by opioids. 

Money could start flowing to communities by April, the Associated Press reports.

The drug distributors and wholesalers deny any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $26 billion to escape the litigation.

Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma Still Finalizing Deal

Purdue Pharma, notorious for creating OxyContin, and members of the Sackler family are still in talks but may be nearing a deal worth around $6 billion.

The Sacklers maintain that they have done nothing wrong, but they have faced tremendous backlash for their purported involvement in pushing the sales of OxyContin despite high rates of opioid addiction and overdoses.

Some opioid crisis victims are concerned that the proposed opioid settlements do not provide enough for those who became addicted to prescription opioids and family members who lost loved ones to fatal opioid overdoses.

Even if the opioid settlements are approved, other opioid lawsuits against companies that sold prescription opioid medications will continue. 

Major pharmacy chains including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart have denied wrongdoing.

However, they may not be able to avoid liability for their role in the opioid crisis. Last year, an Ohio jury found that the pharmacies did not do enough to keep patients safe when dispensing the pain medication.

Do you think the pharmacies should be liable for their alleged role in the opioid epidemic? Join the discussion in the comments below.

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