The state of Oklahoma and Purdue Pharmaceuticals have agreed to a $270 million settlement to help combat the crippling issue of opioid addiction in rural America. Purdue Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactured OxyContin, has been accused of fueling the crisis.
Along with other “major players” in the opioid market, Purdue Pharmaceuticals has been charged with downplaying the risks of addiction and overdoses in patients. The company has been implicated in hundreds of thousands of opioid overdose deaths annually.
Although they denied any fault or involvement in the crisis, Purdue has paid out the opioid settlement in Oklahoma. The company has also designated tens of millions of dollars to establish addiction and treatment research centers in Oklahoma. Other stipulations include millions paid to counties and cities rocked by the crisis.
Though this opioid case has resulted in a settlement, reporters and addiction experts alike have prophesied that this will not be the only state to demand recompense for Purdue’s part in this crisis. For some, though, the money will not be enough to remedy the lost family and friends who have been claimed by the crisis. For others, these steps may be the first in turning the tide against opioid addiction.