Opioid Distributors To Pay 1.2 Billion To New York State In Huge Settlement

We have all heard about the drastic rise in opioid deaths over the past few years, now three major drug distributors have been hauled into court in New York and they are being forced to pay up.

Opioid addictions and overdoses have skyrocketed during the pandemic and the cost to government agencies or soaring. Three major drug distributors, Americisource Bergen Drug Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and McKesson Corporation have agreed to a major court settlement that will have them shelling out $1.2 billion over the next 17 years.

According to Wellsville News Daily and Attorney General Leticia James, the three-drug companies have agreed to the huge settlement for their contribution to the opioid crisis in the state of New York. Ms. James said, “Over the course of these past two decades, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen distributed these opioids without regard to the national crisis they were helping to fuel. But today, we’re holding them accountable, delivering more than $1 billion more into New York communities ravaged by opioids for treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts.“

State and local governments throughout the country have been going after major drug companies for reimbursement of funds that they had to pay out to assist victims of opioid addiction and overdose. The three companies did not admit to guilt and said that they’re “strongly disputing” any wrongdoing. They agreed to the huge settlement only if the local municipalities agreed to drop their legal claims against the companies.

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Having the payout span over a 17 year period only goes to show the devastation that opioids have been causing in the community. Hopefully, the settlement will assist victims of the opioid crisis get the help that they need.