AUSTIN — The State of Texas was part of a multistate coalition that secured a settlement with Albertsons that, once final, would require the grocery chain to pay more than $773 million nationally to address its alleged role in the opioid crisis.
Under the settlement, Texas and its political subdivisions are eligible to receive up to $57.8 million for opioid abatement in Texas.
To date, national investigations and litigation against the pharmaceutical industry over the opioid crisis have led to more than $50 billion in settlement, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
Paxton
Attorney General Ken Paxton says the settlement is the latest in a series of agreements he has negotiated to hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for worsening the national trend of overdoses and deaths from prescription opioids.
To date, Paxton has obtained over $3.3 billion in legal settlements with drug manufacturers and other entities for their roles in the national opioid epidemic.
“This settlement is a major step forward in ensuring justice for the communities and families who have been devastated by the catastrophic opioid epidemic,” Paxton said. “My office has now obtained over $3.3 billion in legal settlements with Big Pharma companies for their role in the opioid crisis.
“I will continue to go after Big Pharma or any other bad actor that jeopardizes the health of Texans.”
Funds from statewide opioid settlements are dedicated to opioid abatement and overseen by the Texas Opioid Council.
The OAG is encouraging affected political subdivisions in Texas to sign on to the settlement to ensure that Texas citizens and entities may receive all benefits and opioid remediation funds to which they are entitled.
Subdivisions will be receiving information from the National Opioid Settlement Administrator about signing on to the settlement and may visit the OAG’s website for more information.
The OAG says subdivisions represented by counsel should reach out to their counsel for more information.
Joining the settlement allows for subdivisions to receive direct payments and grant money in the form of opioid abatement funding from the Texas Opioid Council.
