{"id":16487,"date":"2021-10-04T09:46:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T13:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=16487"},"modified":"2021-10-04T09:46:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T13:46:22","slug":"chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-settlement-with-opioid-distributors-will-save-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/04\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-settlement-with-opioid-distributors-will-save-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation settlement with opioid distributors will save lives"},"content":{"rendered":" <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/04\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-settlement-with-opioid-distributors-will-save-lives\/cherokeenation-26\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-16492\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" data-attachment-id=\"16492\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/10\/04\/chuck-hoskin-cherokee-nation-settlement-with-opioid-distributors-will-save-lives\/cherokeenation-26\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/04\/cherokeenation.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1335\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Cherokee Nation\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Cherokee Nation headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/703-cherokee-nation-announces-settlement-in-opioid-case&gt;Anadisgoi \/ Cherokee Nation&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/04\/cherokeenation-1024x684.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/04\/cherokeenation.jpg\" alt=\"Cherokee Nation\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-16492\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Cherokee Nation headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/anadisgoi.com\/index.php\/government-stories\/703-cherokee-nation-announces-settlement-in-opioid-case>Anadisgoi \/ Cherokee Nation<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Historic legal settlement with opioid distributors is major step to curbing epidemic<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Monday, October 4, 2021<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Cherokee Nation<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source-links\"><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/www.cherokee.org\/\">cherokee.org<\/A><\/div>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\nFor two decades, the opioid epidemic has plagued the Cherokee Nation. In recent years, hundreds of millions of prescription opioids were sold at the wholesale or retail level within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n The epidemic affects even our youngest citizens with many Cherokee babies being born addicted to opioids and, all too often, needing placement in our foster system. Cherokee families were torn apart before they even had a chance to be whole, putting the very future of the Cherokee Nation at risk.\r\n <p><\/p>\r\nThat\u2019s why in 2017, our sovereign government sued the country\u2019s three largest drug distributors \u2014 McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen. Recently, we resolved the lawsuit with a $75 million settlement agreement, the largest legal settlement in Cherokee Nation history.\r\n <p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_twitter-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1443612686722424833\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/20\/qwsf8fwm_400x400-20.jpg\" alt=\"indianz.com (@indianz) on X\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1443612686722424833\">\n\t\t\tindianz.com (@indianz) on X\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/indianz\/status\/1443612686722424833\">\n\t\t\t<p>&#8220;This settlement will help reduce and prevent opioid addiction and its deadly consequences &#8220;: The Cherokee Nation announced a $75 million settlement in a lawsuit filed against opioid manufacturers. #Cherokee #OpioidCrisis https:\/\/t.co\/5ioMNt3oP0<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"X (formerly Twitter)\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tX (formerly Twitter)\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOur lawsuit was one of the first opioid lawsuits in the United States, and it was the first case brought by a Native American nation. It was also the first case that asserted claims against the retail pharmacy chains that contributed to the crisis \u2014 Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. Since that time, many other tribal, state and local governments have followed suit with their own legal cases against the retail pharmacy chains. The claims against those defendants remain active, and Cherokee Nation intends to continue its litigation against them and prepare our case for trial.\r\n <p><\/p>\r\nBut this settlement will begin saving lives immediately. As these funds are paid over the next six-plus years, they will support our efforts to rescue Cherokees from addiction. That work is needed more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased isolation, health fears and an economic crisis have led to heightened anxiety and higher rates of self-medicating. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the United States as a whole has seen the greatest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period during the global health crisis.\r\n <p><\/p>\r\nWith the case against the distributors resolved, we can begin the healing process for our tribe and our citizens. This settlement will enable Cherokee Nation to increase investments in substance use disorder, mental health treatment and other programs to help our people recover.\r\n <p><\/p><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/p>\r\nEven before the settlement, we were taking on this important work. The recently passed Cherokee Nation Public Health and Wellness Fund Act will improve Cherokees\u2019 access to substance abuse treatment and wellness centers. We are building these facilities across the reservation and expanding part of the W.W. Hastings Medical Campus to be a hub for behavioral health and wellness programs. Cherokee Nation\u2019s Behavioral Health staff are already providing many free resources for drug diversion, overdose prevention and addiction treatment.\r\n <p><\/p>\r\nThis opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc across the Cherokee Nation Reservation for too many years. The crisis affected every facet of our society, including our economy, our health system, our schools and our families. \r\n<p><\/p>\r\nI am thankful that through the efforts of our Office of the Attorney General and employees from across the Cherokee Nation, we are bringing justice for our tribe, beginning to repair the damage and serving as an example for affected communities throughout the United States.\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<HR>\r\n<DIV class=row>\r\n<DIV class=\"col-md-3\">\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/23\/chuckhoskinavatar.jpg\" alt=\"Chuck Hoskin Jr\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" class=\"rounded-circle\" \/><\/a>\r\n<\/DIV>\r\n<DIV class=col-md-9>\r\n<EM><A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChuckHoskin_Jr\">Chuck Hoskin Jr.<\/A> \r\nis the 18th elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, the largest Indian \r\ntribe in the United States. He is only the second elected Principal Chief of the \r\nCherokee Nation from Vinita, the first being Thomas Buffington, who served from \r\n1899-1903. Prior to being elected Principal Chief, Hoskin served as the tribe\u2019s \r\nSecretary of State. He also formerly served as a member of the Council of the \r\nCherokee Nation, representing District 11 for six years. <\/EM>\r\n<\/div><\/div><HR>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"h4-responsive\">Related Stories<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/09\/29\/cherokee-nation-reaches-75-million-settlement-in-opioid-case\/\" title=\"Cherokee Nation reaches $75 million settlement in opioid case\">Cherokee Nation reaches $75 million settlement in opioid case<\/a> (September 29, 2021)<BR>\r\n <a title=\"Cherokee Nation seeks to hold drug companies accountable for opioid epidemic\" href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/12\/18\/cherokee-nation-seeks-to-hold-drug-compa.asp\">Cherokee Nation seeks to hold drug companies accountable for opioid epidemic<\/a> (December 18, 2017) <BR>\r\n <A \r\ntitle=\"Cherokee Nation ready to move forward with opioid lawsuit in tribal court system\" \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/08\/10\/cherokee-nation-ready-to-move-forward-wi.asp\">Cherokee \r\nNation ready to move forward with opioid lawsuit in tribal court system<\/A> \r\n(August 10, 2017)<BR><A \r\ntitle=\"Bill John Baker: Cherokee Nation battles opioid epidemic among our people\" \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/08\/02\/bill-john-baker-cherokee-nation-battles.asp\">Bill \r\nJohn Baker: Cherokee Nation battles opioid epidemic among our people <\/A>(August \r\n2, 2017)<BR><A \r\ntitle=\"Cherokee Nation details devastating impacts of opioid crisis in Oklahoma\" \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/07\/25\/cherokee-nation-details-devastating-impa.asp\">Cherokee \r\nNation details devastating impacts of opioid crisis in Oklahoma <\/A>(July 25, \r\n2017)<BR><A \r\ntitle=\"Cherokee Nation blames pharmaceutical industry for opioid crisis\" \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2017\/04\/20\/cherokee-nation-blames-pharmaceutical-in.asp\">Cherokee \r\nNation blames pharmaceutical industry for opioid crisis<\/A> (April 20, 2017)","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The opioid crisis affected every facet of Cherokee society, including our economy, our health system, our schools and our families.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16492,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[19,13,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-law","category-opinion","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-4hV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/04\/cherokeenation.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}