Last Monday, California, Hawaii, Maine and the District of Columbia sued Purdue Pharma, bringing the total number of states filing lawsuits against the company to 48. The states seek to hold the company and its owners, the Sackler family, accountable for downplaying the risks of addiction when marketing OxyContin to doctors. Years of lawsuits and investigations have pointed to the family intentionally exploiting those with Substance Use Disorder (SUDs) for profit. For example, many revealing documents came to light during a 2007 lawsuit where Purdue plead guilty and paid $634 million for criminal drug misbranding charges. [Included] is more about the Sackler family’s role in the opioid epidemic and how the government is cracking down on opioid manufacturers.

Also in Policy Brief:

  • Tax-Exempt Hospitals Face Growing Scrutiny
  • The Great Divide on Drug Pricing
  • HHS Proposes Rolling Back Antidiscrimination Protections
  • VA Launches New Private Care Program
  • A Look at the Federal Register
  • In Other News
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