Event: Mary Anne Blanton

Mary Anne Blanton holds a photograph of her mother, Tammy Blanton, who died of opioid use, in Peoria, Arizona, on April 15. | REUTERS Tammy Blanton’s life unraveled after years of taking opioids initially prescribed for migraines, according to her daughter Mary Anne, who says the drugs left her mother isolated, unemployed and estranged from her family.Tammy was given opioid prescriptions by multiple ⁠providers for decades — receiving more than 200 pills a month, on average, during one two-year period — and a medical examiner later concluded that oxycodone and extended-release morphine, along with alcohol and anti-anxiety drugs, contributed to her accidental death at age 58 in 2017. When Purdue Pharma sought bankruptcy protection in 2019, Blanton believed her mother’s story would qualify her for compensation. Purdue, whose painkiller OxyContin has been widely blamed for fueling the opioid crisis, acknowledged misconduct and pledged to compensate those harmed. While lawsuits over the crisis have generated more than $57 billion in settlements — mostly pledged to state and local governments — Purdue’s deal is the only major agreement to set aside a substantial sum for individuals harmed by opioids, with about $865 million earmarked for them.The fund represents the last and best chance for victims of the opioid crisis to receive any compensation. The sprawling litigation that once targeted nearly every major opioid manufacturer, distributor and pharmacy chain is largely over, and no comparable fund for individuals is coming. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW