Arkansas will receive an estimated $44.5 million as part of a $7.4 billion nationwide settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, according to Attorney General Tim Griffin.
The settlement, now legally in effect, concludes nearly a decade of litigation involving Purdue’s role in the opioid crisis. Officials say the agreement holds the company and its owners accountable for aggressively marketing opioid products.
Arkansas’s share will be divided into 3 parts, with about $14.8 million going to the state, while the remaining funds will be distributed to counties and municipalities. Local portions will be managed through the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership.
The agreement also permanently bars the Sackler family from selling opioids in the United States and provides funding for addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts over the next 15 years.
Additionally, Purdue’s operations will transition to a new entity, Knoa Pharma LLC, which will be prohibited from marketing opioids and monitored to ensure safe distribution practices.
Griffin said while the settlement cannot undo the harm caused, it will support ongoing efforts to combat addiction across Arkansas.
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