Illinois Secures $23M Opioid Settlement in $720M Multistate Deal

Illinois is set to receive at least $23 million from a $720 million settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies accused of deceptive practices that fueled the opioid crisis, according to Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The settlement involves nine states, including California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia, with payments varying over periods from one to ten years. The agreement prohibits seven companies from promoting opioids and limits the production and sale of pills containing more than 40 milligrams of oxycodone, while Virginia-based Indivior will cease manufacturing or selling opioid products for ten years but can market treatments for opioid use disorder. States may opt for cash settlements or free pharmaceutical products as part of the agreement. Illinois has already collected about $1.4 billion from previous nationwide settlements, and these funds are intended to help communities mitigate the devastating impacts of opioid addiction, which has claimed approximately 725,000 lives in the U.S. between 1999 and 2022. Raoul emphasized ongoing efforts to hold companies accountable and support families affected by opioid use disorder across socioeconomic groups.