AMA statement on Justice Department settlement with Purdue Pharma

Statement attributable to:
Susan R. Bailey, MD
President, American Medical Association

“The American Medical Association recommends that any settlement or judgment stemming from opioid-related litigation be used exclusively for data collection, research, education, overdose prevention, stigma elimination, and evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders and pain.

“The nation now is facing a more complicated and deadly drug overdose epidemic due to illicit fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. Death due to prescription opioids remains too high even though proven treatment for opioid use disorder exists. Too few states have taken steps to remove barriers to evidence-based treatment for pain and substance use disorders—barriers often erected by health insurers.