Opioid victims’ families testify against Purdue Pharma

More than two dozen people told stories of 911 calls after finding loved ones on the floor, burying children, and the screams of babies born dependent on opioids at a virtual hearing Thursday. They told their stories in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing with members of the Sackler family, who owns Purdue Pharma. Former Purdue president and board chair Richard Sackler attended via audio only, while two other Sackler family members appeared on video. Sackler has insisted the company and the family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis.

Why are they in court? Purdue Pharma started selling OxyContin, an opiate prescription painkiller, in 1996, and has pleaded guilty twice to criminal charges associated with misleading marketing and minimizing the drug’s risk of addiction. The plan proposes a $10 billion settlement to contribute to fighting the opioid epidemic and could close thousands of lawsuits. The Sacklers will contribute up to $6 billion over 17 years and give up ownership of the company so it can become a new public entity, Knoa Pharma, that will dedicate its profits to addressing the epidemic. In exchange, the Sacklers get immunity from future lawsuits over opioids. At least $750 million will go to surviving family members of opioid addicts.

Dig deeper: Read Emily Belz’s report in WORLD Magazine on record-breaking drug overdose deaths during the pandemic.