Acting AG John Guard leads Florida in landmark opioid settlement, the state to receive up to $325.93 million

Tallahassee, Florida – Under Acting Attorney General John Guard, the Florida Attorney General’s Office in a historic ruling announced a notable triumph in the continuous fight against opioid addiction. At $7.4 billion, a multistate settlement has been reached between Purdue Pharma and Sackler family members. Lead by Florida and which includes a coalition of several states, this settlement represents a turning point in tackling the effects of the opioid crisis that has devastated communities throughout the country.
Long linked with the aggressive marketing of opioids, Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, have consented to this record settlement following intense negotiations. The agreement mostly deprives the Sackler family of control over Purdue and forbids them from marketing opioid drugs domestically. Over the next 15 years, this agreement promises significant financial resources allocated towards programs for opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation.
The settlement was necessitated by a Supreme Court decision in June 2024, which overturned a previous agreement on the grounds that it unjustly shielded the Sacklers from further liability. This new settlement ensures that the Sacklers do not receive such protections, instead requiring consensual releases in exchange for the financial compensation they are obligated to provide.
John Guard, the Acting Attorney General, underlined the difficult character of the negotiations and commended Governor Ron DeSantis and previous attorney general Ashley Moody for their help achieving this outcome. Using his skills and experience, Guard expressed pleasure with the renegotiated terms, which will provide much-needed assistance to impacted areas. He emphasized the need of these initiatives in lowering Florida’s horrific opioid-related mortality toll.

With Florida set to get between $233.37 million and $325.93 million, this deal has a significant financial impact on the state. Florida’s overall recoveries from opioid-related settlements will be significantly boosted by this inflow, maybe reaching around $3.4 billion. Given the increase in fentanyl-related events, funds will be vital in keeping the battle against the opioid epidemic moving forward.
Apart from the financial reward, the settlement requires the release of about thirty 30 records on Purdue and the opioid activities of the Sacklers. These records will offer unprecedented transparency into the actions leading to the opioid crisis. They contain items compliant with the 2007 State Attorneys General Consent Judgments and, 6 years from now, records susceptible to privilege waiver will also be made public.
Key Sackler family members—including heirs of Purdue founders Raymond and Mortimer Sackler—are involved in the resolution. The agreement also covers their trusts, advisers, majority of their children and heirs, therefore establishing a thorough responsibility for anyone engaged in Purdue’s management.
This settlement is a component of a larger array of actions against distributors, producers, and pharmacies related to opioids. For their part in prolonging the crisis, Florida has already obtained more than $3 billion from companies including McKesson, Cardinal Health, Amerisource Bergen, and Johnson & Johnson. The combined money from these settlements is set aside for a range of projects meant to address the terrible effects of opioids on nearby populations.
The number of applicants that accept the conditions of the last agreement will determine the total Florida gets from this settlement. For many impacted by the opioid epidemic, this historic agreement is evidence of the ongoing efforts of state leaders and marks a significant accomplishment in the long road towards healing and rehabilitation.