Purdue Pharma ordered to pay $225 million for role in opioid epidemic

12 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 28

A federal judge in Newark sentenced Purdue Pharma, OxyContin’s maker, to pay $225 million to the Justice Department, finalizing the criminal case.
This payment is part of a broader $7.4 billion bankruptcy settlement dissolving Purdue and distributing funds to affected communities and individuals. Victims and families gave emotional statements during the six-hour hearing.
Purdue admitted to illegal marketing and kickbacks from 2007 to 2017. The Sackler family, former owners, will pay billions but have denied wrongdoing and will not be involved in the new successor company.

Why were the Sacklers shielded from criminal charges despite Purdue's guilty plea?

How will federal funding cuts impact the billions from Purdue's opioid settlement?

Will the new company born from Purdue's ashes truly help end the opioid crisis?

What does Purdue's dissolution signal for holding corporations accountable for public harm?

With victim payouts slashed, where is the bulk of the $7.4 billion settlement going?

As overdose deaths decline, is the worst of the opioid crisis finally over?