An historic $7.4 billion settlement has been reached with Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin.

The drug widely seen as a key driver of the opioid epidemic.

A prior settlement had been struck down by the Supreme Court.

Our Lisa Desjardin has the update.

Jeff, the opioid crisis grew out of Purdue Pharma's work, and while related deaths have declined, it is still a lethal problem.

Last year, more than 50,000 Americans died from overdose involving opioids.

Now all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories, have signed on to a new settlement.

If approved by courts and the Department of Justice,

it would end the Sackler's ownership of Purdue and begin payouts to families and communities devastated

by the crisis. Joining me now for more is NPR's National Addiction Correspondent, Brian Mann.

Thank you, Brian, for joining us. And help us understand, first of all, where would this money go and how soon could communities feel it?

Yeah, the money will start moving out as soon as this deal is consummated. People have been telling me that could happen as early as next year, which seems like a long time.

But after years and years of legal rambling, that's pretty fast.

The Sacklers would have to pay about $1.5 billion right out of the gate.

The company would also pony up money.

And a lot of this money would go to addiction treatment and health care programs around the country.

Some of the money would go directly to families and victims of OxyContin, Purdue Farmers' premier product, this highly addictive pain medication.

And this money would then be paid out over the next 15 years.

A big plug of money right at the beginning and then more money would go into the system over the next 15 years. A big plug of money right at the beginning, and then more money would go into the system over the next decade and a half. You said years

of wrangling. This really has been a legal and emotional roller coaster, especially over the last

five years. One settlement was rejected by the courts, one big one.

Why is this one different?

...