Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $230 million settlement with New York state to prevent the promotion and sale of opioids within the United States. Over the last few decades, the opioid epidemic has killed nearly 500,000 people in the country, prompting years of lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies.
The agreement includes the resolution of opioids-related claims with payment allocation over the next nine years. The company could also pay up to $30 million more in the first year if the state executive chamber passes new legislation for an opioid settlement fund.
The Opioid Epidemic
The company stopped marketing the drugs in 2015 and fully ended the business in 2020. Local governments believe that companies over-prescribed the drugs, leading people to become addicted, while companies argue that they distributed the necessary product amount to address medical issues.
“The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on countless communities across New York state and the rest of the nation, leaving millions still addicted to dangerous and deadly opioids,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Johnson & Johnson helped fuel this fire, but today, they’re committing to leaving the opioid business — not only in New York but across the entire country.” Additionally, New York state will focus on opioid prevention, treatment, and education efforts to prevent future tragedies.
The New York opioid lawsuit trial against other defendants began at the end of June.
For more information about the Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement, contact us today.
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Tracy Everhart
Tracy Everhart is the Editor for Drug Law Journal. A highly-trained and certified medical professional, Tracy is also an accomplished medical writer. After spending years on the front lines of the medical profession, Tracy now devotes her expertise and skills to researching and reporting on new drugs and devices that enter the market, as well as their side-effects and the real-life stories involved. Prior to joining Drug Law Journal, Tracy wrote for benchmark online healthcare resources focused on families and, in particular, women’s health issues. Tracy holds post-graduate degrees from both the American College of Healthcare Sciences and the Yale School of Nursing. She is also a graduate of both Hampshire College, where she studied microbiology and the University of South Carolina school of nursing.