NYC, Massachusetts Cite Sackler Family’s Role in Opioid Crisis

Both New York City and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office have set their sights on the family behind Purdue Pharma, alleging the Sackler family continued to push Oxycontin despite detailed knowledge of the overdoses, addiction and deaths the product was causing.

New York added the Sacklers to its ongoing lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors, also adding pharmacy chains including CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens and Walmart. The suit is consolidated with numerous related suits by local governments across the state.

In the amended filing, the city claims the Sacklers knew about the risks associated with the drug by the summer of 1999, leading members of the family to conspire to downplay the danger.