For years, families affected by the opioid crisis held onto hope that Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy settlement would finally bring some form of justice.
But now, many are finding that promise slipping away.
A new report from Reuters shows thousands of claims are being denied, not because harm can’t be proven, but because victims can’t provide one key detail: proof that the pills they or their loved ones took were specifically made by Purdue.
That’s a problem for many families.
Medical records often list the drug prescribed, but not the manufacturer. Pharmacies may have switched suppliers over time. And in many cases, records simply no longer exist. Doctors, hospitals, and insurers are only required to keep records for a limited number of years.
For people like Tammy Blanton, whose mother died after years of opioid use, that missing paper trail could mean receiving nothing, even after decades of impact.
The settlement includes about $865 million set aside for individuals, making it one of the only major opioid agreements to directly compensate victims. But more than 40% of claims have already been rejected, and tens of thousands more are at risk.
Originally, some victims without documentation could still receive smaller payments by signing affidavits. But after years of legal battles, the final version of the deal requires stronger proof, leaving many people shut out.
Even those who do qualify are expected to receive relatively modest payments, estimated at around $8,000 to $16,000.
For many families, the frustration isn’t just about money.
It’s about feeling like the system promised accountability, and then made it nearly impossible to reach.
As one victim put it: after years of waiting, they’re still left asking what justice really looks like.
