Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has reached a $86 million settlement in principle with Indivior, a pharmaceutical company accused of exacerbating the opioid crisis. It's a move aimed at making some amends for the devastation wrought by opioid addiction in Illinois and beyond. According to a statement from Raoul's office, the opioid manufacturer focused its marketing on high-risk prescribers and failed to intercept suspicious orders, contributing to a cycle of addiction instead of providing a solution for opioid use disorder. Raoul, along with a group of bipartisan attorneys general, spearheaded the settlement process.
The financial agreement joins a series of legal settlements flowing to Illinois, the state anticipates a boost of nearly $1.4 billion earmarked for abatement funds by 2038, which signifies an ongoing commitment to secure resources for recovery and drug abuse treatment. This is critical as countless families have been ensnared in a web of addiction and tragedy as a result of the opioid epidemic. Raoul has made accountability for such companies a priority, ensuring a negotiation coordinated with a wide network of attorneys general hailing from states including New York, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia, along with an executive committee from California, Colorado, Delaware, among others.
The funds acquired by the Indivior settlement are expected to be disbursed in alignment with the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, a blueprint negotiated by Raoul’s office to aid those seeking a roadmap to recovery. In his initiative to tackle the far-reaching opioid crisis, Attorney General Raoul also emphasizes the availability of help for individuals and their loved ones impacted by opioid addiction, by promoting the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances, a toll-free number offering support around the clock.
For individuals grappling with addiction, Raoul encourages taking that pivotal step towards help by calling the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances at 833-2FINDHELP, indicating that hope and help are available in these fraught times.
