A bipartisan group of state AGs announced on Friday an $86 million settlement with opioid manufacturer Indivior, which, the AGs allege, targeted its sales to doctors running pill mills.
“The opioid epidemic has ravaged Virginia families time and time again, with big pharmaceutical companies to blame in many cases. Indivior pushed buprenorphine-based products – which are used to treat opioid use disorder – to continue to line their own pockets. It’s wrong to target those trying to recover, and I’m glad we were able to put a stop to it,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, one of the five state AGs leading the negotiations.
Indivior produced buprenorphine-based products used to treat opioid use disorder. The company came under scrutiny for its reported failure to monitor suspicious orders, causing its products to be inappropriately prescribed and used to fuel, rather than treat, opioid addictions.
The settlement in principle announced on Friday will provide $86 million to participating states over five years, which will be used for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.
“When companies like Indivior exploit those in the thralls of addiction for profit, their behavior must be stopped,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “As a result of our work to hold Indivior accountable, they will end their destructive practices and provide new resources to invest in opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and education that will help save lives in New York. I will continue to ensure the companies that profited from this addiction crisis pay for the harm they perpetuated.”