For The Washington Post: As high court weighs Purdue bankruptcy, opioid settlement divides victims
Families that have lost relatives to overdoses share plenty of outrage at Purdue Pharma, the bankrupt maker of OxyContin that has been accused in lawsuits of helping ignite the nation’s opioid crisis.
But they are split over a legal challenge that could upend Purdue’s agreement to settle thousands of lawsuits and provide billions of dollars that underwrite state campaigns fighting addiction and that offer compensation to victims.
Read the full story here | Reporters: David Ovalle and Robert Barnes | Photo Editor: Claudia Hernandez
Gary Carter, who lost his son to an overdose in 2018, supports the Purdue Pharma settlement that goes before the Supreme Court on Monday.
Tracy Carter and Gary Carter, who live in Maynard, Mass., said their son’s addiction started with prescription painkillers stolen from his grandparents.
Gary Carter stands inside the “Hope’s Room” trailer he uses to educate parents on signs of substance use disorder. (
Gary Carter carries a pouch of naloxone, an overdose reversal drug. He is part of Team Sharing, which uses social networking, community activism, grief services and advocacy to support families affected by opioids.
Udon, the Carter’s cat, watches a flock of pigeons flies over the neighborhood. A plaque that Tracy bought soon after her son Bryant passed reads, “Because someone we love is in heaven, there’s a bit of Heaven in our home.”
Gary Carter enters his truck that has a sticker in remembrance of his late son, Bryant.
Gary Carter becomes emotional as he is reflected in a photo of his son, Bryant, who died of an overdose.