Who We Are
PHOTO: A major landmark settlement has been reached in a lawsuit, targetting big pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic. As Aaron McArthur reports, harm reduction advocates say the multi-million dollar sum is no where near enough. – Jun 29, 2022
The pharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $150 million in response to B.C.’s proposed class-action lawsuit to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medication.
“B.C.’s efforts to negotiate this unique settlement, together with other Canadian governments paves the way for additional settlements to be reached in the ongoing litigation against other manufacturers and distributors of opioid products,” said Attorney General David Eby on Wednesday.
“We know that no amount of money can bring back those who have died, but we are committed to holding corporations and others accountable for acts of alleged wrongdoing committed in the manufacturing and distribution of opioid products.”
Purdue Canada is one of more than 40 defendants named in B.C.’s class-action claim, launched in 2018 on behalf of all federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada.
The province alleges that opioid manufacturers, distributors and their consultants engaged in “deceptive” marketing practices with a view to increase sales, resulting in increased rates of addiction and overdose.
The toxic illicit drug supply claimed the lives of at least 2,236 British Columbians in 2021, the highest annual total in history.
There has been a public health emergency in the province since 2016, and recently the federal government approved a request to decriminalize the personal possession of hard drugs in B.C.
The settlement was reached very early in the litigation process, the province said, before the allegations against Purdue Canada have been proven in court.
B.C.’s application to certify its class action has been scheduled for the fall of 2023 and could open up the door to further settlements to recover health-care costs, it added.
