Native American tribes reach settlements with pharma giants totalling $590 million over opioid epidemic linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the US in last 20 years
US opioid crisis has claimed more than 500,000 lives over the last 20 years and ensnared some of the largest firms in the world of American medicine.
The companies involved in the latest agreement include Johnson & Johnson and McKesson, according to a filing on Tuesday in an Ohio federal court by a committee of plaintiffs in the case. "This settlement is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing and the company will continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve," the company said.
"The burden of paying these increased costs has diverted scarce funds from other needs and has imposed severe financial burdens on the tribal plaintiffs." Douglas Yankton, chairman of the North Dakota-based Spirit Lake Nation, said the money from the settlement would "help fund crucial, on-reservation, culturally appropriate opioid treatment services."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion | Why Is Ron Johnson Still in the US Senate?'There's a line where cluelessness gives way to deliberately dangerous political posturing, and Johnson crossed it last week when he crashed a clown car full of quacks into the public health debate.'
Read more »
36,000 Afghan evacuees lack pathway to permanent U.S. statusAt least 36,433 Afghan evacuees who were or are set to be resettled in the U.S. lack a direct pathway to secure permanent legal residency, according to a government report shared with Congress.
Read more »
US Schools, Relying More on Tech During Pandemic, Increasingly Hobbled by CyberattacksThe pandemic has forced schools to turn increasingly toward virtual learning, making them more dependent on technology and more vulnerable to cyber-extortion
Read more »
Russia to face pressure at U.N. over Ukraine crisis, U.S. saysThe U.S .ambassador to the United Nations has vowed that the U.N. Security Council will press Russia to discuss Russia’s massing of troops near Ukraine.
Read more »
US pushes for better tap water but must win over wary publicAs the Biden administration looks to spend billions of dollars to address inequalities in water quality and access, officials must try to overcome persistent public distrust of tap water.
Read more »
U.S. bans lead to a decline of over 81% in Huawei's phone shipments during 2021Despite new foldables including the Mate X2 and the P50 Pocket, Huawei's 2021 handset shipments declined over 81% last year.
Read more »