BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Wednesday that the state will receive more than $24 million from the latest settlement reached with opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma and its founding owners, the Sackler family, bringing the total opioid recovery secured under his tenure to more than $127 million.
The majority of the newly announced settlement funds are expected to be distributed within the first three years, though the full payout process is structured to span more than a decade, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma made billions marketing opioids they knew were dangerously addictive, and Idaho families paid the price,” Labrador said in a written statement. “Through this settlement, my office is recovering $24 million for Idaho, and we will keep pursuing pharmaceutical companies that profited from this crisis.”
How Idaho Distributes Opioid Settlement Funds
Under Idaho’s opioid settlement framework, incoming funds are divided among three categories of recipients: 40% flows to the state, 40% is allocated to counties and cities, and the remaining 20% goes to public health districts. To date, Idaho entities have collectively received approximately $73 million in opioid settlement money, with close to $30 million directed to the state.
The Idaho Behavioral Health Council advises the governor on how the state’s share should be spent. The council is currently accepting public recommendations through June 5 on the appropriate use of those resources.
Labrador’s Record and Political Backdrop
Labrador, a Republican who took office as attorney general in 2023, has made opioid accountability a centerpiece of his tenure. The latest settlement adds to a growing record of pharmaceutical industry recoveries secured by his office. In other civil litigation news from the region, a recent court ruling sided with county officials and developers in a separate RICO case, illustrating the range of complex legal matters Idaho courts continue to address.
Labrador is running unopposed in the Republican primary and will face Democratic attorney Lori Hickman in the November general election.
The opioid crisis has imposed significant costs on Idaho communities over the past two decades, straining public health infrastructure and local government budgets. Settlement funds directed to counties, cities, and health districts are intended to support addiction treatment, recovery services, and prevention programs. Decisions on how the state’s portion is spent will be shaped by the Behavioral Health Council’s recommendations to the governor — a process that reflects the kind of local input and limited bureaucratic gatekeeping that Idaho officials have emphasized in managing the funds. For broader context on Idaho legal and health policy developments, visit Idaho News.
What Comes Next
The $24 million settlement will be distributed over the coming years, with the bulk expected in the near term. Community stakeholders and local governments have until June 5 to submit input to the Idaho Behavioral Health Council regarding spending priorities for the state’s allocation. Labrador’s office indicated it will continue pursuing legal action against pharmaceutical companies connected to the opioid epidemic, suggesting additional settlement announcements may follow in the months ahead.