North Carolina’s attorney general has finalized $6.6 billion in agreements with opioid makers Teva and Allergan over allegations that the companies contributed to the opioid crisis by overstating the benefits of the drugs, downplaying the risk of addiction and failing to maintain effective controls to prevent them from getting into the hands of those not prescribed the medications.
Attorney General Josh Stein announced preliminary agreements with Teva and Allergan in July 2022.
“These settlements are just the latest step in our dogged pursuit of justice on behalf of people whose lives have been torn apart by opioid addiction,” said Stein. “I am proud to work alongside my colleagues around the nation to secure desperately needed resources. We are delivering significant funds to help people get the treatment and recovery services they need, and we’re not done yet.”
North Carolina’s share of these settlements is at least $188 million, to be paid over 13 years. The settlements will also require Teva’s opioid business to prevent all opioid marketing and ensure systems are in place to prevent drug misuse. Allergan is required to stop selling opioids for the next 10 years.