Native American tribes reach $590M settlement with U.S. opioid distributors

Feb. 1 (UPI) -- More than 400 Native American tribes reached a $590-million settlement Tuesday with Johnson & Johnson and three other drug distributors, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.

Johnson & Johnson said it will pay $150 million over a two-year time frame, while McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen will collectively cover an additional almost $440 million over seven years, reports the New York Times.

The tribes collectively sued Johnson & Johnson and the three other distributors, accusing them of producing and shipping opioids to Native American tribes, ignoring health warnings and contributing to overdoses affecting their members, reports The Hill.

"The company's actions relating to the marketing and promotion of important prescription opioid medications were appropriate and responsible," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/02/01/native-tribes-reach-590-million-opioid-settlement-with-Johnson-Johnson/2681643752347/