Settlement Announced in Kentucky OxyContin Lawsuit

An eastern Kentucky official has announced a settlement in a lawsuit over the drug OxyContin.

The Appalachian News-Express cited a statement from Pike Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford in reporting that drug maker Purdue Pharma agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit over abuse of the narcotic.

Rutherford said he couldn’t give further details about the settlement due to terms of the agreement.

The county initially filed the lawsuit in 2007 and asked for damages the community suffered after the company marketed OxyContin as a safer alternative to other pain medicine.

The drug became so pervasive in eastern Kentucky, it was dubbed “Heroin of the Hills.”

Rutherford indicated in the statement that he was pleased with terms of the settlement.

“Finally, Pike County Government will have the funds to make a difference in drug addiction,” Rutherford said. “We can now establish the Pike County Re-Entry Partnership for people convicted of drug violations. It has taken years to get done. Our attorney, Gary C. Johnson, was passionate and brought this about.”

The goal of the Pike County Re-Entry Partnership would be to rehabilitate people who are addicted to drugs.