'Special place in hell.' $6B Purdue Pharma settlement offers little solace to families afflicted by lethal overdoses

Purdue Pharma will pay $6 billion for its alleged role in the opioid crisis, but it is not admitting any wrongdoing, which is not sitting right with families of those who died of overdoses.

News 12 Staff

Mar 4, 2022, 2:29 AM

Updated 946 days ago

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Purdue Pharma will pay $6 billion for its alleged role in the opioid crisis, but it is not admitting any wrongdoing, which is not sitting right with families of those who died of overdoses.
"There's a special place in hell for that family," Linda Ventura said. "They should be locked away for the rest of their lives with no hint of getting out, ever."
Ventura lost her son Thomas to an overdose in 2012. Her anger is directed at the Sackler family - the owner of Purdue Pharma - and the makers of OxyContin. Purdue Pharma reached a bankruptcy settlement that will include a $6 billion payout to avoid civil lawsuits.
Victims' families and survivors allege the Sackler family knew exactly what they were doing and accuse them of fueling the opioid epidemic with deceptive and aggressive marketing.
The Sackler family admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, and there are no criminal charges.
"People who are culpable, the Sackler family, they've avoided prosecution so it looks like there were some back deal, but right now we're looking for the resources, because what we have right here is a bona fide public health crisis," said Steve Chassman, with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence, which offers services to those suffering from addiction.
The Sackler Family issued in a statement saying they "sincerely regret" that OxyContin "unexpectedly became part of an opioid crisis.