If you’ve watched or read the news in the last few weeks, you’ve likely heard or read about the Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement. You might be wondering who Purdue Pharma is, why the government sued them, and what it means for those who became addicted to prescription opioids. At Laguna View Detox, we’re here to help you understand if and how this settlement affects you or someone you love who has been affected by prescription opioids.
Who Is Purdue Pharma?
Purdue Pharma is a pharmaceutical company that developed, manufactured, and marketed medications and consumer health products. The company is not aligned with Purdue University but was founded and owned by the Sackler family. The Sackler family, many of whom were physicians, were integral in the company’s running and are viewed as having significant responsibility for Purdue Pharma’s impact on the opioid crisis.
What Is the Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement?
The United States Department of Justice recently resolved criminal and civil complaints against Purdue Pharma based on its business practices contributing significantly to the opioid crisis. Quite simply, the Purdue Pharma opioid settlement acknowledges and attempts to rectify that the company put its business and the marketing of its drug, Oxycontin, above the health and safety of the patients to whom it was prescribed. Because Purdue’s opioid practices were found to be egregious in nature, the settlement dissolves the company and repurposes its assets to benefit the public it has harmed. Not only did Purdue Pharma misrepresent its anti-diversion program to the FBI, but it also continued to provide incentives to physicians encouraging the prescribing of Oxycontin unnecessarily. Purdue Pharma downplayed the highly addictive nature of the drug and provided financial incentives for physicians to continue to prescribe the medication.
Why This Is a Small Victory for the Opioid Epidemic
While this settlement does represent the most considerable penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical company, it has not satisfied many of those who have lost family members to opioid addiction. It is not hard to see why many see this settlement as a drop in the bucket compared to the created crisis. While the fines being levied against Purdue Pharma are large, they barely compare to the opioid crisis cost.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the United States exceeds $78 billion each year. This does not include the burden of illicit opioid use. Beyond the financial costs, more than 120 people die from opioid overdoses every day, and no dollar amount can compensate for those losses. Many who are unhappy with this settlement believe that the Sackler family has managed to retain much of the profits that they made creating this crisis. However, this settlement is only with the federal government; Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers still face several state governments’ legal actions. What may be most confusing about this settlement is what the restructured version of Purdue Pharma looks like and who will own the company.
Get Free From Opioids at Laguna View Detox
At Laguna View Detox, we understand how easy it is to find yourself addicted to opioids. At our facility, you will get round the clock holistic care for your addiction. We are one of the leading drug rehab centers in California. We provide luxurious, individualized inpatient rehab treatment in one of the most beautiful areas in Southern California. We remain dedicated to helping you detox safely and seeing you succeed by providing you with the care you need while you’re with us and setting you up for success with our aftercare. Contact us today and let us help you with your addiction.