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Some states, towns skeptical over proposed opioid settlement

In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, Christine Gagnon of Southington, Conn., protests with other family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses at Purdue Pharma LLP headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Gagnon lost her son Michael 13 months earlier. Reports emerging about a possible financial settlement in 2019 with Purdue Pharma, the company that has come to symbolize the nation's opioid epidemic, suggests the settlement amount won't come anywhere near what the national crisis has cost. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, Christine Gagnon of Southington, Conn., protests with other family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses at Purdue Pharma LLP headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Gagnon lost her son Michael 13 months earlier. Reports emerging about a possible financial settlement in 2019 with Purdue Pharma, the company that has come to symbolize the nation's opioid epidemic, suggests the settlement amount won't come anywhere near what the national crisis has cost. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, Christine Gagnon of Southington, Conn., protests with other family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses at Purdue Pharma LLP headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Gagnon lost her son Michael 13 months earlier. Reports emerging about a possible financial settlement in 2019 with Purdue Pharma, the company that has come to symbolize the nation's opioid epidemic, suggests the settlement amount won't come anywhere near what the national crisis has cost. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

By Associated Press 6 min read

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – An offer from OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to settle some 2,000 lawsuits over their contribution to the national opioid crisis is receiving growing pushback from state and local officials who say the proposed deal doesn’t include enough money or accountability.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on Friday called for the company, which is headquartered in the state, to be forced out of the opioid business altogether.

“At a minimum, Connecticut demands that Purdue be broken up and shut down, and that its assets be liquidated,” Tong said in a statement.

He said he wants the controlling Sackler family to pay billions of dollars “they siphoned out of Purdue,” with the money going toward addiction research and treatment.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said she wants any settlement to include more money than the $10 billion to $12 billion offered by Purdue and the $3 billion offered from the Sacklers, an amount that represents just a portion of the family’s fortune. Much of their money appears to be overseas.