RICHMOND, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Sackler family and their company, Purdue Pharma, have reached a new $7.4 billion settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits alleging that the pain medication OxyContin caused a widespread opioid addiction crisis in the U.S.

Virginia is among the 14 states that filed suit.

“The fight to secure this monumental settlement has been long and hard fought, but my office never gave up,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. “This historic settlement not only holds the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma accountable for their role in the opioid crisis but also ensures that communities across Virginia and the nation alike receive the essential support they need to help heal and restore lives ravaged by opioid addiction.”

The pending settlement hits home in Virginia. Southwest Virginia saw some of the most dramatic increases in deaths related to opioid prescriptions. In 1997, 23 people died from opioid addition. In 2003, there were 215 opioid addiction deaths, an 830% increase.

The Hulu miniseries, Dopesick, was filmed in Virginia.