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Page 16 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 AG Healey announces resolution with Purdue Pharma and Sacklers for their role in opioid crisis Attorney General Maura Healey recently announced the resolution of her lawsuit against the Sackler family and their company, Purdue Pharma, that will make public a multitude of documents related to their role in the opioid crisis and also require a payment of more than $4.3 billion for prevention, treatment and recovery efforts in communities across the country. It will also require Purdue Pharma to be wound down or sold by 2024 and ensure that the Sacklers are banned from the opioid business and required to turn over control of family foundations to an independent trustee to be used to address the opioid epidemic. The resolution of the lawsuit requires unprecedented and complete disclosure about the role Purdue and the Sacklers played in the opioid crisis. It requires Purdue and the Sacklers to make public more than 30 million documents, including attorney-client privileged communications about the original FDA approval of OxyContin and tactics to promote opioids. It also requires the Sacklers to make one of the largest payments that individuals have paid to resolve a law enforcement action in U.S. history. “From the day we opened our investigation and became the first state to sue the Sacklers, my office has been committed to revealing the truth about the opioid epidemic that the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma created, the devastation they caused, and the countless American families they hurt,” ASKS | FROM PAGE 5 because of their advocacy of abortion rights] A: Somebody asked me about it a couple of times. I haven’t followed it super closely, but the quote from Pope Francis: “Communion is not a gift for saints. It’s food for sinners.” It’s not an exact quote, but that’s what I say when I’m asked about it. I lean on Pope Francis. Maybe it’s a cop-out. But I love the quote – so whatever people decide – I just think that’s a great quote; I think it speaks for itself. Again, as people distribute communion, the focus is we’re making sure that it is consumed reverently and nothing bad is happening to it. Q: What’s made the biggest impression on you so far in Saugus? A: The people. The people are wonderful. They are kind. They’re direct, which I like. And, again, there’s a relaxed nature. I tend to be a relaxed person. I would say that you’re likely to see me in a T-shirt and smoking a cigar and just jabbing with the parishioners. And I’ve done it at the Blessed Sacrament and at St. Margaret’s. Q: So, you still smoke? A: Yes, cigars. I waited five years to enjoy cigars the way they are meant to be – not inhalsaid Healey. “While I know this resolution does not bring back loved ones or undo the evil of what the Sacklers did, forcing them to turn over their secrets by providing all the documents, forcing them to repay billions, forcing the Sacklers out of the opioid business, and shutting down Purdue will help stop anything like this from ever happening again. This case has also shown us that our legal system needs to change so that billionaires are never allowed to manipulate the bankruptcy system. I am grateful to the families whose strength and perseverance will continue to guide our work to combat this crisis in the years ahead.” “The opioid crisis has caused immeasurable harm to families across Massachusetts and Purdue Pharma played a significant role in perpetuating that crisis, and I am grateful that this resolution holds Purdue and the Sackler family accountable,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration was proud to support the Attorney General in this litigation and to push for greater accountability for the Sacklers and Purdue throughout this process. There is much more work to do to fight the opioid epidemic and we remain committed to building on Massachusetts’ nation-leading work in prevention, education, treatment and recovery, but we are glad that today’s resolution sends a message that those who perpetuated this crisis will be held accountable.” ing – so I have a little book where if I have a new cigar, I will write down the flavors and stuff. That’s a little bit of a hobby. One of my close friends was a classmate – also in sobriety. He’s a Catholic priest in Ohio. He enjoys cigars. We’ll exchange our experiences. It’s still not the healthiest thing, but one of my guilty pleasures. Q: What about your family? A: I’m a twin. My brother, Justin, lives in Plymouth. He’s a special needs person. He walks but he’s nonverbal. My parents [Stephen and Joan Makos] live in North Fort Myers, Fla. I was raised as a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. But my parents have supported my decision to go into the Catholic Church and become a priest. Q: Anything else that you would like to share? A: Just that I’m really pleased to be in Saugus. I’ve really fallen in love already with both churches of the Saugus Catholics Collaborative – Blessed Sacrament Church and Saint Margaret Church. It kind of resolidifies that it’s God’s will that I’m here. I just pray that I do my best to serve people and be transparent. Q: Do you have any idols that you really look up to? Or do you have a hero? Somebody who has truly made a difference in “I would like to thank Attorney General Healey for delivering on her promise to expose what Purdue and the Sacklers did,” said Learn to Cope Founder/Executive Director Joanne Peterson. “For the past 20 years, they have hidden behind lies and stigmatized our families. Now everyone will know the truth.” “This settlement helps to bring justice to the many families in the Commonwealth who have lost loved ones to the opioid epidemic,” said Dimock Center President/ CEO Dr. Charles Anderson, who is a member of the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council. “It will shape public health policy and decrease the stigma associated with substance use disorder which is vital to promoting access to care for all that need it. Moreover, the disclosure of information achieved in this settlement will allow us to make sure that this never happens again.” “We are forever grateful to Attorney General Maura Healey and her staff for demanding accountability and justice for the harm and devastation caused to individuals, families, and communities,” said Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery Executive Director Maryanne Frangules. Disclosure Under the terms of the resolution, Purdue will turn over for public disclosure the evidence from lawsuits and investigations of Purdue over the past 20 years, including deposition transcripts, deposiyour life. And it doesn’t have to be somebody you know or have met. A: Somebody once asked me when I was a kid if I could sit down and have a meal with somebody, who would that be? And it still holds true today – probably Dr. Martin Luther King. I’d like to sit down with him, because of his sense of equality, his sense of love for people no matter who you are or what your background is. I think he kind of epitomizes that radical welcoming of what I think the church should be all about, so yes, if I had to pick one. Q: It was suggested that I ask you about your welcoming to Saugus, so I will mention it. A: Yes. On July 18 we’re doing an outdoor Mass. It’s kind of a part of the welcoming by the community. It’s July 18 at 11 a.m. There will be a welcoming Mass. Hopefully, the weather is nice. That’s kind of a formal way to get together as a community, but people have been so welcoming throughout Mass, because I have been doing the Masses right along, since the first weekend in June. Q: Anything else that you would like to talk about? A: I have these thoughts about what people have asked me or made comments about tion videos, and 13 million documents. Purdue will also be required to turn over more than 20 million additional documents, including every non-privileged email at Purdue that was sent or received by every member of the Sackler family who sat on the Board or worked at the company. Lastly, Purdue will waive its attorney-client privilege to reveal hundreds of thousands of confidential communications with its lawyers about tactics for pushing opioids, FDA approval of OxyContin, “pill mill” doctors and pharmacies diverting drugs, and about the billions of dollars Purdue paid out to the Sacklers. Payment and Abatement The Sacklers will pay $4.325 billion over the next nine years, with Massachusetts expected to receive an estimated $90 million for abatement of the opioid epidemic. Thousands of individual victims of Purdue’s misconduct will also receive compensation as part of the bankruptcy process. Under the terms of the plan, the Sacklers will be permanently banned from the opioid business and Purdue will be sold or wound down by the end of 2024. The resolution also requires the Sacklers to relinquish control of family foundations holding $175 million in assets to the trustees of a foundation dedicated to abating the opioid crisis. Further, the Sackler family will be prohibited from requesting or permitting any new naming rights in connection with charitable or similar donathe relaxed nature they find me in the community. Like, “Oh Father, we kind of like seeing you in normal clothes.” And they ask me if I wear clerics. I said I do, on more formal occasions. And then they say, “Why is it you kind of dress in a relaxed way?” I say, “With the scandal and everything with the church, I feel as though it’s time to … instead of focusing on looking like a priest, acting like a priest ... so, if I’m in shorts, having a cigar and just talking and sharing my faith, I’d rather focus on acting instead of looking.” That is one of things that I have told people. And another thing that we touched on before – somebody had asked, “Why are you so open about your alcoholism as a public figure? As a Catholic priest, it’s embarrassing.” I said, “No, it’s not embarrassing.” One of my critiques of the church is the hierarchy not being as transparent as I would prefer. And I had asked a couple of years ago in front of Father [Cardinal Sean] O’Malley to be more transparent. And I think he’s done a good job with that. I figure I can’t ask the church to be transparent if I’m not transparent about myself. That’s also been the lens I live my life through. Q: You’ve had a chance to tions or organizations for the next nine years. Throughout the case, Healey called out the Sacklers’ abuse of the justice system. In 2019, when the Sacklers used Purdue’s corporate bankruptcy as a shield against personal liability in lawsuits, AG Healey led a coalition of 25 non-consenting attorneys general to fight Purdue and the Sacklers in bankruptcy court. In 2020, Healey warned the U.S. Department of Justice not to support Purdue’s plans. In June 2021, Healey testified before the U.S. House Oversight Committee about the need for legislation to close the loophole that the Sackler billionaires have used to gain protection from bankruptcy court. Since taking office, Healey has prioritized combating the opioid epidemic through a multidisciplinary approach that includes enforcement, policy, prevention and education efforts. In June 2018, Healey was the first state attorney general to sue members of the Sackler family for their role in creating the opioid crisis. In February 2021, AG Healey co-led a $573 million settlement with McKinsey & Company over claims it advised Purdue on how to target doctors to “turbocharge” OxyContin sales. In May 2021, Healey filed a lawsuit against Publicis Health, a significant player in the American drug marketing industry, alleging it designed and deployed unfair and deceptive marketing schemes to help Purdue Pharma sell more OxyContin. spend some time with Cardinal O’Malley? A: Yes, I’ve had a chance throughout the years. He ordained me. He’s a beautiful, spiritual man. Again, I have a little bit more of a radical sense of the church in terms of transparency. He’s done an amazing job. We don’t see eye to eye on some things, but he’s been wonderful. Saugus Catholics Collaborative issued the following press release this week: Blessed Sacrament Parish and St. Margaret’s Parish will be welcoming our new pastor, Fr. Jason Makos, at an outdoor Mass on July 18 on the grounds of Blessed Sacrament Church. The Mass will begin at 11AM, and there will be a Coffee Hour immediately following the Mass in the church hall. Everyone is welcome to join both the Mass and the Coffee Hour, we do ask that you bring your own chair if you are coming to the Mass. Fr. Jay, as he likes to be known, has expressed his appreciation for the warm Saugus welcome he has been given. “This Mass is so very special in that it not only welcomes me to the congregation, it also signifies the revitalization of the Saugus Catholic community as we move beyond the difficult events of the last year and into a bright future for our Church and our town,” he said.

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