Baltimore, Maryland, has agreed to a $152 million jury award stemming from litigation against two pharmaceutical companies, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. This development is part of a broader legal battle concerning the companies’ roles in the city’s escalating opioid crisis.
Initially, a jury in 2024 awarded the city a staggering $266 million following a seven-week trial. However, in June 2025, a judge instructed city leaders that they would have to choose between a reduced settlement of $52 million or returning to trial after deeming the original amount excessive. The city will now also receive an additional $100 million aimed at mitigating the opioid crisis’s effects.
“From the beginning, this case has always been about securing justice for Baltimore residents who have been severely affected by the opioid crisis,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. He noted that the current settlement is a significant achievement, despite being less than the jury’s original award. “This amount still dwarfs what the city would have received without this separate litigation.”
The total financial recovery for Baltimore from pharmaceutical companies now approaches $580 million. The city’s lawsuit accused McKesson and AmerisourceBergen of failing to monitor and halt unusually large shipments of opioid painkillers supplied to local pharmacies. Data indicates that these two distributors provided approximately 60% of the 500 million opioid doses released into Baltimore and its surrounding counties from 2006 to 2019.
A 2024 report by local media sources highlighted a staggering toll, revealing over 6,000 opioid-related deaths in Baltimore over six years—a rate that far exceeds that of any other major U.S. city.
To combat this crisis, Mayor Scott also introduced a preliminary overdose response strategic plan, specifying how to allocate $242.5 million in settlement funds from previous lawsuits against multiple pharmaceutical companies. The executive order outlining the plan emphasizes addressing systemic inequities in treatment, enhancing care systems, and reducing stigma associated with seeking help for substance use.
The newly established Baltimore City Opioid Restitution Fund will manage these settlement funds separately from the city’s general budget to ensure proper oversight. “Generations of Baltimoreans have lost loved ones due to the opioids pushed into our communities by major pharmaceutical companies,” Scott stated, adding that while monetary compensation cannot erase the past harm, it will support expanded recovery programs and prevention efforts.
Recently, Baltimore held public discussions aimed at gathering input from community members on the overdose reduction plan. Residents voiced personal stories that reflected the deep impact of the crisis. One attendee noted the loss of his mother to a fentanyl overdose, emphasizing the need for preventive measures rather than reactive solutions after overdoses occur.
Amid these efforts, Baltimore saw alarming incidents, such as the hospitalization of 27 individuals from overdoses in the Penn North neighborhood. Community organizations responded quickly, distributing Narcan and other resources to save lives.
At the Tuerk House in West Baltimore, treatment facilities have been busy assisting survivors of overdose incidents. According to Dr. Pierre Thomas, the center offers comprehensive care that includes detoxification services, individual counseling, and peer support, aiming to provide a nurturing environment for recovery.
The ongoing developments in Baltimore reflect a concerted effort by city leaders and residents to confront the opioid crisis, holding responsible parties accountable while working towards viable solutions.
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