Attorney General John Formella recently announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has now become legally effective. Courtesy photo

CONCORD – Attorney General John Formella recently announced that a $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has now become legally effective.

This caps nearly a decade of work by attorneys general from across the country in pursuing investigations and litigation over Purdue’s and the Sacklers’ role in fueling the opioid crisis. New Hampshire began its investigation of Purdue in 2015 and the attorneys general launched a multistate investigation of Purdue the following year.

“The opioid crisis has devastated families in our state, and I thank the Attorney General’s Office in New Hampshire and AGs across the country who have worked tirelessly to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for their role in poisoning our communities,” said Gov. Kelly Ayotte. “The nearly $30 million coming to New Hampshire from this settlement will help us continue to support Granite Staters recovering from substance use disorder. By investing in prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, we will continue to fight the drug crisis and save lives.”

“This settlement represents years of determined work by attorneys general across the country to hold Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. For too long, they profited while communities like ours paid the price. While no amount of money can undo the harm caused to families across New Hampshire, this agreement delivers both accountability and meaningful resources, bringing nearly $30 million to our state to support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts,” said Formella. “We remain committed to working with our local partners to ensure these funds are used where they are needed most to save lives and support long-term recovery. Just as importantly, the settlement imposes lasting restrictions and ensures transparency, sending a clear message that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated and must never happen again.”

After Purdue filed bankruptcy in September 2019 in light of massive litigation against it, the attorneys general have taken a lead role in the bankruptcy proceedings, including negotiating a new settlement that obtained more money from the Sacklers after the Supreme Court in June 2024 invalidated provisions in a prior settlement. The settlement gives funds to communities across the country, as well as individual victims and other groups who filed claims in the bankruptcy proceedings.

Fifty-five attorneys general, representing all eligible U.S. states and territories, signed onto the settlement. It resolves litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers for producing and aggressively marketing opioids in the United States, fueling the largest drug crisis in the country’s history.

The settlement permanently bars the Sacklers from selling opioids in the U.S. and delivers funds for addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery to communities across the country over the next 15 years. New Hampshire is expected to receive $29.5 million from the settlement over the next 10 years.

Most settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years. New Hampshire is expected to receive $16.2 million during that period, including $7.3 million in year one, $4.7 million in year two and $4.1 million in year three.

The settlement also means that Purdue’s manufacturing operations transfer effective today to Knoa Pharma LLC, which will be overseen by a board of directors who had no connection to Purdue. The settlement prevents Knoa from marketing opioids and provides for an independent monitor to ensure it provides these medicines in the safest possible manner that limits the risk of diversion.

The settlement also requires Purdue and the Sacklers to release more than 30 million documents related to their opioid business.