Rationale for Settling
Statement from the Sackler Families[1]
Spokespeople for the families of the late Dr. Mortimer Sackler and the late Dr. Raymond Sackler issued the following statement:
“The Sackler families are pleased to have reached a settlement with additional states that will allow very substantial additional resources to reach people and communities in need. The families have consistently affirmed that settlement is by far the best way to help solve a serious and complex public health crisis. While the families have acted lawfully in all respects, they sincerely regret that OxyContin, a prescription medicine that continues to help people suffering from chronic pain, unexpectedly became part of an opioid crisis that has brought grief and loss to far too many families and communities.”
Sackler Family Rationale for Settling
The goal is to deploy resources for communities and people in need as soon as possible. The Sackler family does not want funds available for a public benefit to be consumed by attorneys’ fees, responding over decades to thousands of lawsuits in dozens of states. Continuing litigation benefits no one.
The Sackler family looks forward to setting the record straight and views concluding the legal cases as an important step in that process.
The Sackler family wants to contribute positively to addressing the opioid crisis in a constructive, immediate way and regrets that OxyContin, which continues to help people suffering from chronic pain, unexpectedly became part of the opioid crisis.
Sackler Family Has Proposed Contributing More Than All Profit Distributions From Purdue
The Sackler family is offering to contribute its ownership of Purdue (whose future profits valued at $4 billion[2] will be dedicated to addressing opioid addiction) plus at least an additional $5.5 billion to help communities and people in need, with the possibility of an additional $500 million based on the potential sale value of international businesses.
This resolution is intended to provide urgently needed resources to communities nationwide. The Sackler family regrets that a prescription medicine that continues to help people suffering from chronic pain unexpectedly became part of the opioid crisis. If this agreement is approved, the Sackler family will be contributing more money than was retained in profits from Purdue’s sale of OxyContin.