Rise of Opioid-Related Lawsuits
The opioid epidemic has left devastating marks on individuals, families, and communities across the United States. Its ripple effects continue to challenge public health systems and economic stability. With over a million lives lost to opioid-related overdoses since 1999, the crisis has prompted an extraordinary legal response. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers linked to prescription opioids. These lawsuits highlight allegations of deceptive marketing, failure to prevent misuse, and other practices that fueled opioid dependency on a massive scale.
A Landmark Surge in Litigation
The wave of lawsuits began around 2017 as federal, state, and local governments joined from all corners of the country to hold corporations accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. The focus has been on entities across the opioid supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers like Purdue Pharma, distributors such as McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, and major retailers like CVS and Walgreens.
These lawsuits claim that these parties either misled medical professionals and patients about the addictive potential of opioids or failed to properly monitor and control the supply of these drugs, leading to widespread diversion and misuse.
Over the last several years, these actions have culminated in groundbreaking settlements. For example, by early 2025, the California Department of Justice reported that nationwide settlements had reached nearly $50 billion. These funds are set to be distributed to states and localities to support recovery initiatives, enhance treatment facilities, and bolster prevention efforts.
Notable Cases and Outcomes
Some of the most prominent examples of opioid litigation include the 2021 settlement involving Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors—McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen—which resulted in a $26 billion nationwide settlement. This agreement alone is expected to fund the implementation of opioid mitigation programs over several years.
Other noteworthy settlements have targeted companies such as Purdue Pharma, which had filed for bankruptcy in 2019 following a wave of lawsuits alleging its OxyContin marketing fueled the crisis. A revamped settlement as of January 2025 is set to disperse $7.4 billion to state and local governments, funding life-saving initiatives like naloxone distribution and youth intervention programs.
Another landmark case involved pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS, which were accused of ignoring red flags in prescription practices. CVS, for instance, agreed in recent years to a settlement of $5 billion to help address the epidemic’s impact.
The Role of State and Federal Governments
These lawsuits reflect a broader effort by governments to tackle one of the most devastating public health crises of modern times. Funding from opioid-related settlements provides critical support to communities through programs that:
Enhance substance use disorder treatment options.
Expand access to overdose reversal medications like naloxone.
Support community education on opioid risks and harm reduction.
Strengthen data collection to prevent overprescription and misuse.
At the federal level, Congress has also enacted legislative measures aimed at supplementing the resources generated through these settlements. These include expanding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services and supporting first responders who encounter opioid-related emergencies. Together, these actions demonstrate that systemic change is necessary to prevent a repeat of such a public health catastrophe.
The Path for Affected Communities
While the settlements represent progress in holding corporations accountable, their actual implementation in communities will determine how far-reaching this impact will be. Many states began rolling out initiatives in recent years that utilize settlement dollars to strengthen the health infrastructure and provide essential resources to those recovering from opioid dependence.
However, advocates caution that sustained oversight is crucial to ensure these funds are used effectively, with a clear focus on supporting individuals and families impacted by the epidemic. Transparency in how states allocate settlement funds will be key to fostering trust and maximizing the positive outcomes of these legal victories.
The rise of opioid-related lawsuits marks not only a turning point in America’s response to the crisis but also a call for continued action. The tens of billions of dollars being distributed to communities represent new opportunities for healing and rebuilding. However, the road to recovery from the pervasive effects of the opioid crisis remains long.
Edited by: Rohun Sendhey, MSW
