Oregon to get $66M from Sackler family, Purdue Pharma in opioid settlement

Oregon is expected to get up to $66 million as part of a national multi-billion settlement reached against the Sackler family and their company, Purdue Pharma Inc., for their role in fueling the opioid crisis.

The state has negotiated to receive payments over the next nine years The money will go toward supporting opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs, according to Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield.

According to the state attorney general’s office, 55% — or roughly $36.3 million — will go to cities and counties, while the rest will go to a state Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Fund that was established in 2022.

The funds are part of a national $7.4 billion settlement that the Sackler family and its company Purdue Pharma reached in January to resolve thousands of lawsuits alleging that the prescription painkiller OxyContin caused a widespread opioid addiction crisis in the U.S. The deal was negotiated by 15 states, including Oregon.

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Under the Sacklers’ leadership, Purdue Pharma developed and aggressively marketed opioids like OxyContin, containing the highly addictive oxycodone, according to a

U.S. Supreme Court ruling

. By enlisting trusted medical figures and instructing representatives to downplay addiction risks, Purdue became a leading supplier of prescription opioids, the court ruled.

Purdue Pharma is one of many drugmakers, distributors and pharmacy operators that have reached settlements of about $50 billion over recent years, according to

The Associated Press

. Oregon has received nearly $645 million from those deals, according to the attorney general’s office.

Under this settlement, the Sackler family has agreed to pay up to $6.5 billion, while its company will pay up to $900 million.

“This settlement ensures Oregon communities receive much-needed resources like drug treatment and prevention programs,” Rayfield said in a statement. “It’s about helping the communities that have carried the weight of the opioid crisis for too long and making sure the companies that helped cause this damage are held responsible.”