RALEIGH — Attorney General Josh Stein’s office announced an $86 million multi-state settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Indivior on Friday for its role in fueling the opioid crisis. North Carolina state and local governments are anticipated to receive approximately $2.5 million from this settlement in principle. In total, Stein has secured nearly $1.5 billion in opioid settlement funds for North Carolina.

“North Carolinians are dying every day from opioid overdoses,” Stein said in a press release. “I will continue to do everything in my power to hold accountable the companies that fueled this crisis. The money we have secured from this settlement will go a long way in helping people get the treatment and recovery services they need.”

According to the press release, Indivior produced buprenorphine-based products to treat opioid use disorder. However, Stein reportedly alleged Indivior inappropriately targeted its sales to dangerous prescribers — including doctors running pill mills — and failed to monitor suspicious orders, causing its products to be inappropriately prescribed and used to fuel, rather than treat, opioid addictions.

While Stein strongly supports evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder, including medications for opioid use disorder, the settlement in principle alleges that Indivior engaged in activities that helped fuel — rather than curb — the opioid crisis.

The settlement in principle announced last week will provide $86 million to participating states over five years, which will be used for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs. A final settlement remains contingent on agreement on critical business practice changes.

The settlement in principle was negotiated by the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in coordination with an executive committee consisting of the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont.