Dublin-based healthcare giant Cardinal Health on Friday agreed to pay $44 million to settle multiple lawsuits regarding the distribution of various controlled substances.
Cardinal Health admitted that it failed to report large orders for powerful painkillers like oxycodone in 2011 and 2012. The company hit the $44 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ).
Kinray LLC., a New York-based subsidiary of Cardinal Health, also agreed to pay $10 million as part of the settlement.
Craig Morford, the company’s chief legal & compliance officer, claimed that the company remained committed to working with public as well as private partners to do their part and find solutions.
Confirming the settlement, Morford said, “These agreements allow us to move forward and continue to focus on working with all participants in addressing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse. Cardinal Health is committed to working with both public and private partners to do our part and find solutions.”
Amid ruthlessly growing opioid epidemic, battling over-prescription of painkillers like oxycodone has become a priority for the U.S. law enforcement. Painkillers like oxycodone contain chemicals found in drugs like opium and heroin. Deaths from opioid abuse have skyrocketed across the nation in recent years.
– Caroline Robinson
NorCal.news