Topeka, Kan. —  Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt today announced that at least $6 million for Kansas has been secured from opioid manufacturer Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plc for its role as one of the leading pharmaceutical companies that contributed to the national opioid addiction crisis.
The fund distribution was approved as part of Mallinckrodt’s bankruptcy proceedings. These funds will be used by Kansas to address substance abuse and addiction.
“We have worked tirelessly to hold these companies accountable for the addiction and human suffering caused by years of their unlawful business practices,” Schmidt said. “These settlements have been complex, but they are the fruits of the efforts of many to provide justice for the harm of past actions. The money Kansas receives will help repair broken lives. The settlements are proof that in the long run, justice is a greater force than greed.”
The settlement with Mallinckrodt is to be paid out to the state over the next eight years, with the possibility of early payment in full. This is the latest action in Schmidt’s ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.