Georgia to Receive Up To $126 Million in National Opioid Settlement with Purdue Pharma
Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that the State of Georgia has joined a national settlement with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, a move poised to bring up to $126 million to Georgia for addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery services over several years. The overall national settlement totals $7.4 billion and includes 55 states and U.S. territories, aiming to resolve widespread litigation against Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers for their role in exacerbating the opioid crisis. Local governments will now be asked to join the settlement, contingent on ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.
“For years, the Sackler family profited off other people’s pain – destroying lives and families in Georgia and throughout the country,” said Attorney General Carr. “While nothing can undo the harm caused, this settlement will provide our state with significant resources to support those struggling with addiction and Georgians in recovery. Combating the opioid crisis will always be a top priority, and we won’t stop fighting until there are no more deaths, no more tears, and no more heartache as a result of this epidemic.”
Under the Sackler family’s ownership, Purdue Pharma aggressively marketed opioid products for decades, significantly contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis. The settlement aims to end the Sackler family’s control of Purdue and their ability to sell opioids in the U.S. Funds will be distributed over time, with the Sacklers paying $1.5 billion and Purdue paying $900 million in the first year. This will be followed by an additional $500 million after one year, another $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
This settlement is part of Attorney General Carr’s broader efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Through various national settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retail pharmacies, Carr has previously secured over $1 billion for state and local governments to expand access to crucial treatment, prevention, and recovery services, with funds being received and distributed over time.
In 2024, Attorney General Carr’s Gang Prosecution Unit, working with law enforcement in Richmond County, seized 15 pounds of fentanyl—an amount capable of killing 3.5 million Georgians, or nearly a third of the state’s population. Carr also continues to lead a statewide Task Force dedicated to addressing the opioid epidemic.
