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'I took it as far as I could': Connecticut Attorney General William Tong on settling with Purdue Pharma

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, left, announces a new $6 billion settlement deal with Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, the makers of Oxycontin. Tong was joined at his office in Hartford Thurs., March 3, 2022 by Connecticut family members like Paige Niver (right), of Manchester, who've been affected by the opioid epidemic.
Nicole Leonard
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (left) announces a new $6 billion settlement with Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin, on Thurs., March 3, 2022. Tong was joined at his office in Hartford by Connecticut family members, including Paige Niver (right) of Manchester, who've been affected by the opioid epidemic.

Connecticut State Attorney General William Tong joined "All Things Considered" a day after he announced that Connecticut is expected to receive $95 million for treatment and prevention of opioid addiction.

This money is part of a multibillion-dollar national settlement of a major opioid lawsuit against Stamford-based Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family.

Tong talks about the grief he got for refusing to accept the Sacklers' smaller settlement offer last year, why he thought now was the time to settle, which non-monetary part of the settlement satisfies him the most, and why he still doesn't think justice was done.

John Henry Smith is Connecticut Public’s host of All Things Considered, its flagship afternoon news program. He's proud to be a part of the team that won a regional Emmy Award for The Vote: A Connecticut Conversation. In his 21st year as a professional broadcaster, he’s covered both news and sports.

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