Opinion: Don’t let the opioid settlement fritter away funds like the tobacco settlement did
Money from any forthcoming opioid settlement must be applied to help victims of opioid and other substance use disorders through access to evidence-based care, research, and training.
In response to the opioid epidemic in the U.S., cities, counties, states, insurers, and medical groups filed more than 2,000 lawsuits seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for it. A tentative settlement is now on the horizon: according to news reports on Wednesday, Purdue Pharma will pay up to $12 billion over time and the Sackler family, which owns the company, will give up control of it.
Opinions abound on how this money should be spent.
In the midst of this discussion, as a result of opioid overdoses.
