In a significant legal development, eight opioid manufacturers have agreed to pay the District of Columbia approximately $1.2 million as part of a nationwide settlement aimed at addressing their role in the ongoing opioid crisis. The announcement was made by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb on Monday, highlighting the continuing efforts to hold companies accountable for their contributions to this devastating epidemic.
As part of the settlement, seven defendants—including Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus—will be prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids. They will also be restricted from producing or selling any product containing more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill. Additionally, these companies are required to reform their corporate practices to prevent such issues from occurring in the future. Notably, the eighth defendant, Indivior, is banned from manufacturing or selling opioid products for the next 10 years.
Attorney General Schwalb expressed his commitment to pursuing justice for the residents affected by the opioid crisis, stating, “We will not stop until every corporation that illegally profited from the opioid crisis is held accountable.” This settlement contributes to the District’s ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, which has claimed lives and devastated communities throughout the nation.
To date, the Office of the Attorney General has secured nearly $104 million from various companies involved in the opioid crisis. The financial contributions from each defendant in this settlement vary, with Mylan set to pay approximately $602,600, Hikma about $188,800, and Amneal responsible for roughly $160,300. Additional payments include approximately $116,900 from Apotex, $71,100 from Indivior, $56,900 from Sun, $34,300 from Alvogen, and $27,200 from Zydus.
While the District is set to receive around $1.2 million from this settlement, larger states like Virginia could gain significantly more, with officials projecting up to $16.4 million in settlement funds for their state due to its much larger population. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares noted the importance of securing funds to help Virginians heal and recover, emphasizing the ongoing need for accountability in the face of the opioid crisis.
The impact of the opioid crisis in D.C. is underscored by recent statistics reported by Schwalb, revealing that between 2021 and 2024, 1,740 individuals succumbed to opioid overdoses in the District. The settlement represents a continuing effort by the Attorney General’s office to combat the epidemic and secure relief for those affected.
In 2022, the District established the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to guide the effective use of the nearly $104 million in settlement funds that have been secured thus far. Following a troubling trend of increasing opioid fatalities, D.C. experienced a decrease in deaths in 2024, with 344 reported fatal overdoses compared to 516 the previous year. In the first quarter of 2025, the city has recorded 61 fatal opioid overdoses, marking a 33% reduction compared to the same period in the previous year.
“Tragically, hundreds of D.C. residents continue to lose their lives every year to opioid overdoses, and far too many members of our community struggle with opioid addiction,” Schwalb remarked. This recent settlement reinforces a bipartisan commitment to hold corporations accountable and enforce change in business practices to safeguard public health in the future.
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