Johnson & Johnson Settles Native American Opiate Claim For $665M

New Brunswick NJ

01 February, 2022

5:50 PM

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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson, plus three major pharmaceutical companies, agreed to pay up to $665 million to Native American tribal communities for their role in the opioid epidemic, according to the Washington Post. Johnson & Johnson owns subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which produces the fentanyl patch. The company has its world headquarters in New Brunswick. Up until very recently, J&J used to make Duragesic, Nucynta and Nucynta ER, all of which are opiate painkillers. However, the company said in this 2021 statement their opiate painkillers account for less than one percent of total opioid prescriptions in the U.S., and many other pharmaceutical companies make far more. According to the Washington Post report, more than 400 Native American tribes sued the four pharmaceutical companies, saying the painkillers were marketed to them without any regard for how incredibly addictive they can become, or the fatal overdoses they can cause. This is only the most recent massive federal fine or settlement Johnson & Johnson has been hit with in the opioid epidemic. In 2019, the state of Oklahoma issued Johnson & Johnson an unprecedented $572 million fine for downplaying the addiction risks of its opiate painkillers. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter sued the New Jersey pharmaceutical giant because he said J&J caused "devastation" in his state. At the time, Johnson & Johnson appealed the fine. In July of last year Johnson & Johnson announced it would pay $5 billion to a nationwide settlement agreement to resolve opioid-related claims and litigation by American states, cities and counties. States, cities and other groups can "opt into" that settlement to receive money to resolve opiate claims. Johnson & Johnson admitted no guilt or wrongdoing but also said it no longer sells prescription opioid medications in the United States. Related: 800-Pound Opioid Spoon Dropped At Johnson & Johnson's New Brunswick HQ