Connecticut and 14 other states on Thursday agreed to a new settlement deal with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma that would secure $7.4 billion for communities across the United States that have been impacted by the opioid crisis. Connecticut would receive around $64 million over eight years, said Attorney General William Tong, in a renegotiated deal that is $1.4 billion more than a previous deal that was later overturned by the Supreme Court. “What’s at stake here are the roughly 1,400 families this year and thousands that have come before who are wrecked by this crisis,” Tong said. He was joined by Liz Fitzgerald and Christine Gagnon, two moms who have lost three sons to opioid overdose between them. “They’re strong, they fight, they’re here, they’re in it, they’re committed, but they will never get their boys back.” Connecticut helped negotiate the new deal, along with New York, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. These states must now get the approval from the other governments who are part of the lawsuit, as well as from the bankruptcy and state courts, according to Tong’s office. Previously, the states had agreed to a $6 billion settlement from the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma, along with terms like a fresh apology, turning over documents, submitting to having the Sackler name struck from museums and universities, and a hearing where families of victims could address them. Though some of those terms have already been met, that deal was overturned by the Supreme Court in June 2024 in a 5-4 opinion, because the agreement would have also shielded the Sackler family from future opioid-related lawsuits. Connecticut’s share of the money wouldn’t be meaningfully changed by the additional $1.4 billion if the settlement is finalized, according to Tong, in part because the state has elected to receive the funds sooner — over eight years instead of 18. “There’s always a risk when you enter an agreement and someone’s going to pay you over time,” Tong said. “So we talked about it, and we said we’ll take our money now.” Some nonprofits have expressed frustration with the pace of distribution of the funds Connecticut has received from opioid litigation so far, around $158 million. That’s out of an expected $664 million if the settlement is finalized. When members of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee were asked about the pace and communication between the group and nonprofits, Tong responded. “I’m not going to criticize people for being frustrated. I get it because there’s not enough money, and it’s not moving fast enough, and we don’t disagree with that,” Tong said. But Tong said that careful consideration about how to spend the opioid settlement funds is a reflection of past criticism about how another big pot of money had been used: tobacco settlement funds. “This is a ton of money, and we want to make sure that it is spent wisely.” Fitzgerald, whose sons Matthew and Kyle both died of overdoses, stood with Tong. Fitzgerald was among the claimants who spoke to the Sacklers, telling them what her family had gone through after her sons used OxyContin to treat injuries. “Did I get my point across and digs in? Absolutely. But did it really matter to these people? I don’t think so. But at least I got to have my say,” she said. Asked if the settlement would cause the Sacklers to change their lifestyle, Tong said, “I don’t. That’s the truth.” Gagnon also stood before reporters for the announcement. Her son died of an overdose after he began taking OxyContin for a football injury. “Money, it’s true, it doesn’t bring back anybody,” Gagnon said. “It’s really not going to hurt [the Sacklers]. I mean, they’re not going to be eating ramen noodles. They’re still going to be able to have their filet mignon.”