San Mateo County’s share of opioid settlement totals $49M

“In the face of widespread harm, public institutions have a responsibility to act,” County Attorney John Nibbelin said in a press release. “While no litigation outcome can undo the devastating consequences of the opioid crisis, this resolution ensures accountability and directs resources to the communities that have borne the impact.”

In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy under the weight of thousands of lawsuits. During the proceedings, the Sackler family — owners and executives of Purdue — sought broad personal immunity from future opioid-related lawsuits. San Mateo County, alongside plaintiffs nationwide, opposed these protections. In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a proposed settlement that would have granted sweeping immunity to the Sackler family. Following further negotiations, a $7.4 billion final settlement was reached in January 2025 among the Sacklers, Purdue Pharma, states and counties, according to officials.

To date, officials said settlement dollars have supported local efforts by:

• Expanding addiction treatment in county jails for those most at risk;

• Increasing treatment and recovery resources at San Mateo Medical Center;

• Supporting services at the Redwood City Navigation Center;

• Enhancing capacity for community-based behavioral health providers;

• Improving access to life-saving overdose reversal medications countywide;

• Establishing an interagency Overdose Steering Committee to guide coordinated prevention efforts;

• Increasing detox services and pathways to long-term treatment; and

• Strengthening data and reporting systems to better track needs and outcomes.