Is the OxyContin lawsuit still going on?
Asked by: Bettye Bernhard | Last update: February 3, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (55 votes)
Yes, the legal saga surrounding OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family is still active, with a major new settlement approved in late 2025 following a Supreme Court reversal of a previous deal.
What is the status of the OxyContin lawsuit?
A federal bankruptcy court judge on Tuesday formally approved OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma's plan to settle thousands of lawsuits over the harms of opioids.
Can I still file a claim against Purdue Pharma?
(5) Is there a deadline for submitting Claim Forms? The deadline for Claim Forms is July 28, 2025. If you plan to mail your form, please allow for additional time as the Trust requires forms to arrive by July 28.
Is OxyContin still legal in the US?
Yes, abusing OxyContin is illegal. OxyContin is a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule II drugs, which include cocaine and methamphetamine, have a high potential for abuse. Abuse of these drugs may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
When will Purdue Pharma pay out?
Most of the settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years. The Sacklers will pay $1.5 billion and Purdue will pay roughly $900 million in the first payment, followed by $500 million after one year, an additional $500 million after two years, and $400 million after three years.
Oxycontin Lawsuit
When can I expect my settlement check?
How Long to Receive the Check? If you're dealing with an insurance company, as with most personal injury plaintiffs, the process of cutting the check is typically pretty quick. Once the settlement is finalized and signed, insurance companies usually send a check within a month.
Who owns OxyContin now?
OxyContin was developed and sold by Purdue Pharma, a pharmaceutical company owned by the Sackler family, who are widely criticized for their role in the opioid epidemic due to aggressive marketing that downplayed the drug's addictive risks. While Purdue Pharma is still involved in making OxyContin and other opioids, the Sackler family's company has faced numerous lawsuits and bankruptcy proceedings related to OxyContin's misuse.
Where is Richard Sackler now?
Richard Sackler, former president of Purdue Pharma, reportedly lives near Austin, Texas, as of 2013, and remains involved with the family's charitable foundation, the Richard and Beth Sackler Foundation. He is a central figure in the opioid crisis, and while Purdue Pharma dissolved after bankruptcy, Sackler himself hasn't faced criminal charges, though the family agreed to pay billions in damages for addiction treatment.
What is the #1 drug of abuse in the United States?
Alcohol and marijuana have the highest rate of abuse among all drugs. In the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported: 14.5 million Americans aged 12 or older had experienced alcohol dependence or abuse.
Is Purdue Pharma still operating today?
No, Purdue Pharma as the company that manufactured OxyContin effectively ceased operations and was dissolved in 2021, with plans to rebrand as Knoa Pharma, as part of a massive opioid settlement, though legal challenges over the Sackler family's liability and the settlement terms continued through 2024, ultimately leading to a new $7.4 billion deal in early 2025 that finalized their exit and redirected funds to addiction treatment.
Is Richard Sackler still rich?
Richard Sackler: Eldest son of Raymond, former president of Purdue Pharma, lives in a $1.7 million house in Boca Raton, Florida. Despite selling his $20 million Beverly Hills property, he and the Sackler family remain extraordinarily wealthy.
Did Rudy Giuliani help Purdue Pharma?
Giuliani was lead counsel and lead spokesmen for Purdue Pharma during their negotiations with federal prosecutors over charges that Purdue had misled the public about OxyContin's addictive properties. Purdue was a client of the firm Bracewell & Giuliani.
Did any of the Sacklers go to jail?
The Sacklers themselves have never been charged with any crime, but their company did eventually plead guilty to federal charges twice for deceptive marketing, while federal prescribing rules for pain pills have now been tightened.
What country has the highest opioid crisis?
Our analysis, using the latest mortality data from 2022, compares the U.S. overdose rate — 324 deaths per 1 million people, or almost 108,000 deaths in 2022 — to dozens of countries from across the globe and finds that the U.S. unequivocally has the highest rate of overdose deaths in the world.
Where did the Purdue settlement money go?
Communities across the country will directly receive funds over the next 15 years to support addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and resources.
Is there still an opioid crisis in 2025?
The American Medical Association 2025 Substance Use and Treatment report shows that while opioid-related overdose deaths declined last year, the epidemic remains widespread and increasingly complex, driven by polysubstance use and an unpredictable illicit drug supply.
What's the most sold illegal drug in the world?
Cannabis is the world's most widely used drug, with 244 million users in 2023.
What is the difference between oxycodone and OxyContin?
Oxycodone is the active opioid drug, while OxyContin is a specific brand name for an extended-release (ER) formulation of oxycodone, designed to release the drug slowly over 12 hours for chronic pain, whereas regular oxycodone (e.g., Roxicodone, Percocet when combined) is typically immediate-release (IR) for acute pain, providing quicker but shorter-lived relief, with both carrying risks of addiction and dependence.
What are the big 3 drugs?
Abstract. Data from surveys of arrestees and the household population in the U.S. suggest there is only modest overlap among demand for the big three expensive illegal drugs (cocaine/crack, heroin, and methamphetamine).
Is OxyContin still legal?
Yes, Oxycontin (oxycodone) is still legal in the U.S., but it's a highly controlled prescription medication used for severe pain, not recreationally, and its distribution and prescribing are strictly regulated due to its high potential for addiction and abuse, classifying it as a Schedule II controlled substance.
Did Harvard remove the Sackler name?
Yes, Harvard Medical School removed the Sackler name from its U.S.-facing programs in 2022 due to the family's role in the opioid crisis, though some other institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Tel Aviv University also removed or agreed to remove the name from various facilities and departments.
Who owns Purdue Pharma today?
The Sackler family is an American family who owned the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma and later founded Mundipharma. Purdue Pharma, and some members of the family, have faced lawsuits regarding over-prescription of addictive pharmaceutical drugs, including OxyContin.
Is OxyContin still under patent?
Although OxyContin is still protected by a Purdue patent, it is available in multiple generic equivalent forms, sold by generic drug companies with Purdue's permission.
Why did the Sackler family get immunity?
The bankruptcy court justified immunity on the grounds that the Sacklers' money was protected in offshore accounts and trusts and, therefore, could not be reached through tort liability—all the better to have them participate voluntarily.