Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family have reached a $7.4 billion settlement with all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories over their role in the opioid crisis. The deal, filed with a federal bankruptcy court in March 2025, outlines that payments will be made over the next 15 years. Approximately $6.5 billion will come from the Sackler family, who currently own Purdue Pharma. A key difference from previous settlements is that individuals who choose not to opt into the plan may still pursue civil lawsuits against the Sacklers. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the agreement will “hold the Sackler family accountable” for their “leading role in fueling the epidemic of opioid addiction and overdoses.”
Purdue called the states' and territories' approval of the reorganization plan a “critical milestone” toward completing an agreement that will "provide billions of dollars to compensate victims, abate the opioid crisis, and deliver opioid use disorder and overdose rescue medicines that will save American lives." While the agreement has broad support, some critics say the settlement provides insufficient compensation to direct victims. Ryan Hampton, an Addiction Recovery Advocate, criticized the plan, stating, “I’d still give it an F at this point because it still falls short of anything meaningful that victims will receive. Compared to how long and drawn out this process has been ... it is very little money." Despite this, the deal received unanimous backing from the 55 eligible states and territories, and legal experts say it is likely to receive final approval from the bankruptcy court.
