When asked if he carries any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States, Richard Sackler firmly replied: ‘No’<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Aug. 19, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The former president and co-chairman of Purdue Pharma said Wednesday that his family and the company bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States.<\/p>\n
Richard Sackler, M.D., made his comments in testimony delivered by video during a federal bankruptcy court confirmation hearing for a plan to restructure Purdue and settle all lawsuits against the company and family members for their part in the opioid epidemic, The New York Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n He was asked: “Do you have any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States?”<\/p>\n “No,” Sackler, 76, replied.<\/p>\n “Does the Sackler family have any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States?”<\/p>\n “No,” Sackler again replied.<\/p>\n “Does Purdue Pharma have any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States?”<\/p>\n More firmly: “No.”<\/p>\n For nearly 20 years, Sackler was the lead family member in the Sackler-owned prescription opioid maker’s efforts to sell its signature prescription painkiller, OxyContin.<\/p>\n Sackler was called to appear for questioning by lawyers for states that oppose the settlement plan. One objection the states have is that in exchange for paying $4.5 billion, the Sacklers will receive legal protections that are too broad, The Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n During Sackler’s tenure, Purdue Pharma twice pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges related to marketing and sales of OxyContin and reached a settlement with the state of Kentucky. It was just one of many settlements made by the company.<\/p>\n