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Sacklers got off easy

Last week Purdue Pharma, makers of OxyContin and the Sackler family that owns it reached a settlement in a lawsuit over their part in creating the opioid epidemic. The Sackler family will pay $4.3 billion to 15 states, including Minnesota, involved in the suit. Minnesota will receive more than $50 million for opioid addiction prevention and treatment.

The family got off easy. Their company created an extremely dangerous and addictive product, promoted it relentlessly while hiding what it knew about its dangers, and reaped in billions in profits while tens of thousands of people across the country suffered the anguish of addiction and have died from overdoses.

As part of the agreement, Purdue Pharma must also turn over tens of millions internal documents detailing its actions, as it reorganizes into a new entity that helps combat the epidemic it helped create.

It is a massive settlement, but $4.3 billion is a small price to pay for the misery, loss and death Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers created.

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