Two pharmaceutical giants, McKesson and Cencora, were ordered to pay $266 million to Baltimore after a jury found them liable for contributing to the opioid crisis. The companies allegedly failed to report suspicious orders of prescription drugs, fueling the epidemic in the city. Baltimore is seeking an additional $9 billion for opioid crisis solutions. The mayor praised the verdict as a step towards holding big pharma accountable. Baltimore has opted out of a national settlement to pursue its own litigation against drug companies for larger payouts. McKesson and Cencora have been accused of flooding communities with dangerous quantities of opioids. McKesson previously settled with the Justice Department for failing to report suspicious orders. Cencora is facing a lawsuit accusing the company of facilitating opioid diversion. Both companies plan to challenge the verdict. The city plans to use the funds to address substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs. Baltimore has been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis, with a high number of overdose deaths. The CDC reports a high number of opioid prescriptions and misuse in the U.S. Baltimore’s total restitution funds now exceed $668.5 million, a significant amount in addressing the opioid crisis.
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Baltimore to receive $266 from drug companies in opioid epidemic lawsuit
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