Everett reaches $4M settlement with pharmaceutical companies on opioid epidemic lawsuit

EVERETT — The city of Everett announced Wednesday that it reached a $4.19 million settlement with CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Teva, and Allergan for those companies’ contributions to the local opioid epidemic.

In a news release, the city said that it has faced “sharp rises in drug abuse, addiction and associated illegal conduct as a result of the ongoing opioid epidemic.”

Everett was the first city in the country to file suit against Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, for its role in causing addiction. The city says that the lawsuit “is still ongoing and will result in the recovery of additional funds.”

“In the city of Everett, we see the impacts of the opioid epidemic every day and it’s heartbreaking,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “I’m glad we can hold these corporations accountable for their part in flooding our streets with highly addictive medications. Though this settlement won’t bring back all those we have lost, it will add resources to address the lasting effects in our community.”

As part of the state’s suit against opioid distributors McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., Everett received a settlement of over $4.1 million, the city said in its release.

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