Month: July 2025

Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Thursday approximately $720 million nationwide in settlements with eight drug makers that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis.

Based on the overwhelming participation by Attorneys General across the country, all eight defendants have agreed to proceed with a sign-on period for local governments. Oregon will receive up to $10.1 million in all.

“Opioid drug makers must be held accountable for the harm they’ve caused to families and communities across Oregon, and this settlement is part of our ongoing efforts to seek justice,” Rayfield said. “No amount of money can rewind the clock, but this money will allow us to continue building a future free from this crisis by investing in drug treatment, prevention, and recovery support across our state.”

The eight defendants and the total amount they will pay in funds to address the opioid crisis as part of the deal are:

Mylan (now part of Viatris): $284,447,916 paid over nine years

Hikma: $95,818,293 paid over one to four years

Amneal: $71,751,010 paid over 10 years

Apotex: $63,682,369 paid in a single year

Indivior: $38,022,450 paid over four years

Sun: $30,992,087 paid over one to four years

Alvogen: $18,680,162 paid in a single year

Zydus: $14,859,220 paid in a single year

In addition to these abatement payments, several of the settlements allow states to receive additional funds or free harm reduction pharmaceutical products. Oregon has chosen to receive additional funds.

Additionally, seven of the companies (not including Indivior) are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products, making or selling any product that contains more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill, and are required to put in place a monitoring and reporting system for suspicious orders. Indivior has agreed to not manufacture or sell opioid products for the next 10 years, but it will be able to continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.

The settlements were negotiated by North Carolina, California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.

In Oregon, settlement funds are distributed:

45% to the state: Directed into the Opioid Settlement Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Fund, established by Oregon statute in 2022.

55% to counties and cities: Distributed to support local opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

The $10.1 million recovery for Oregon in this settlement is in addition to the approximately $700 million Oregon will receive from settlements entered into since July 2021 in national lawsuits against several pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retailers for their role in the opioid crisis – including a $66 million settlement agreement announced in June from the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma.

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Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes Children’s Foundation is sounding the alarm that the State of Oregon is being forced to make cuts in key services such as assistance to crime victims and survivors, due to losses in federal funding.

Oregon just announced that Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is being reduced by $18.5 million, a significant reduction that threatens critical programs that support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and human trafficking across Oregon.  

The foundation said in a news release that “these cuts put at risk the availability and accessibility of essential support for those who need it most. While DCF does not receive VOCA funding directly, nonprofit on-campus partners at three out of the organization’s four campuses do—including J Bar J Youth Services, KIDS Center, and Saving Grace.  

“We are concerned about finding funding for our coordinated human trafficking task force that serves the Tri-County region and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs,” said Stephanie Alvstad, executive director of J Bar J Youth Services. “This task force and the services tied to it are lifelines for youth in crisis. The potential loss of funding jeopardizes our ability to respond to and protect those most at risk.” 

While it is not yet known exactly how each program will be affected, the foundation said this cut undoubtedly means fewer resources and greater barriers for survivors seeking help. 

“This funding loss is not just about dollars,” said Cassi MacQueen, DCF Executive Director. “It’s about the safety and well-being of real people, of children and families who have experienced trauma and desperately need support and care. Our partners do the life-changing work of walking alongside survivors. When they lose resources, our entire community feels the impact”. 

Community-based organizations that offer front-line support and resources to survivors are critical for our community’s safety and play a vital role in ensuring children and families in Central Oregon can begin the process of recovery after experiencing senseless violence and trauma, oftentimes at the hands of a family member or someone they trust. The loss of funding to help with recovery means victims may remain trapped in limbo. 

DCF’s four campuses house 23 nonprofit organizations that serve more than 19,000 children and families each year. As a hub for nonprofits, DCF sees every day how essential these services are to the health and well-being of our community, and how important it is to ensure these organizations have the support they need to continue their work. 

About Deschutes Children’s Foundation 

Founded in 1990, Deschutes Children’s Foundation manages and maintains four nonprofit service centers in Bend, Redmond, and La Pine. By providing collaborative spaces and operational support, DCF empowers its 23 nonprofit partners to focus on their core missions, collectively serving over 19,000 vulnerable children and families each year. 

For more information, visit deschuteschildrensfoundation.org. 

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