been released show the sackler family and produce pharmaceuticals in a rather negative light richard sackler then the president oversaw the creation of some public health advocacy groups it's implied that the american pain society and the now defunct american pain foundation operated almost as front groups then president richard sackler explained his motives our goal is to buying these organizations more closely to us than here to for but also to align them with our expanded mission and to see that the fate of our products are next to it could we pound up with the trajectory of the pain movement and these organizations works to convince the us public that pain related issues were not being properly addressed however that's not all the e-mails have shown dr kathleen foley a neurologist who was also a paid speaker for produce pharma urged richard sackler to expand and to collaborate with other drug companies who stood to make a profit from an expansion of pain awareness. i'm thinking of an alternative strategy of bringing together all the members of the pharmaceutical industry who have drugs o

also a paid speaker for produce pharma urged richard sackler to expand and to collaborate with other drug companies who stood to make a profit from an expansion of pain awareness i'm thinking of an alternative strategy of bringing together all the members of the pharmaceutical industry who have allergies or drugs out there and try to come together as a sort of he's if you recognizing that your particular drug has been recently identified in the newspapers as a drug issue how the pain awareness campaign may have resulted in giving some people a temporary buzz but the pain felt by u.s. society in the aftermath of the resulting opioid epidemic is far greater in serious clear that produce and other manufactures from very early on were interested in one being that was their bottom line being really indifferent to the well being of patients who would actually be taking the opioids that they were peddling and their wanted gender was to make money so pilate manufacturers played a major role in the current american hope you would have to demick they were not the sole and to do responsible for

richard sackler. members of his family own the company, which made billions developing and selling oxycontin. according to the government, it's one of the most common painkillers involved in prescription opioid deaths in america. >> do you know whether oxycontin is more powerful or less powerful a drug than morphine? >> depends what you mean by powerful. if powerful means potency, absolutely. it is twice as potent as morphine. >> reporter: the clips were released by the investigative news group propublica. they come from a lawsuit filed by the state of kentucky in 2007. >> purdue fought very hard and the sackler family fought very hard to keep this deposition secret. >> reporter: under oath, sackler said it was wrong to blame the opioid crisis on their marketing. but the company ended up settling, paying more than $20 million. >> there is no way that this intended or had the effect of causing physicians to overlook the fact that it was twice as potent. it was called out in virtually every promotional

richard sackler's deposition published today by pro publica >> the way the sales scheme was set up, if they sold more oxycontin, they made more money basically. >> yes, yes. the same as almost every other company in the industry. >> reporter: the sackedler family ranked by forbes as the 19th rich est in america didn't return our request for comment purdue tells nbc while it is prepared to defend itself, it sees little good coming from wasteful litigation. the people and communities affected by the opioid crisis need help now. >>> accord being to the cdc, opioids have claimed more than 400,000 lives from 1999 to 2017. and susan allen samuels whose son joe survived an addiction to oxycontin says purdue isn't doing enough >> and they, quite frankly, didn't give a damn 10 to $12 billion now, what is one life worth >> and kristen joins us now. so how likely is the settlement >> reporter: right now it's just a proposal those close to negotiation say purdue told the attorneys if they don't take this deal, the company will declare bankruptcy and they warn that could result in much less money >

richard sackler. members of his family own the company which made billions developing and selling oxycontin. >> do you know whether oxycontin is more powerful or less powerful a drug than morphine? >> depends what you mean by powerful. if powerful means potency, absolutely. it is twice as potent as morphine. >> the clips from 2015 were released by the news group propublica. under oath sackler said it was wrong to blame the opioid crisis on their marketing but the company ended up settling paying $20 million. >> there is no way that this intended or had the effect of causing physicians to overlook the fact that it was twice as potent. it was called out in virtually every promotional piece of literature. >> and purdue pharma and the sackler family have denied the allegations in all those lawsuits. >>> a developing story out of rural virginia where a pro baseball player's family has been found murdered. police say the wife, child and of blake bivens were found dead at a home near the north carolina borde

richard sackler's deposition published by pro publica >> the way the sales scheme was set up, if they sold more oxycontin they made more money, basically? >> yes yes. the same as almost every other company in the industry. >> reporter: the sackler family ranked by "forbes" as the 19th richest in america, didn't return our requests for comment. purdue tells nbc while it is prepared to defend itself it sees little good coming from years of wasted litigation the people and communities affected by the opioid crisis need help now. according to the cdc, opioids have claimed more than 400,000 lives from 1999 to 2017. and susan allen samuel, whose son joe survived an addiction to oxycontin, says purdue isn't doing enough >> and they quite frankly didn't give a damn and 10 to 12 billion dollars now, what is one life worth? >> reporter: so for now this is just a proposal. but those familiar with the negotiations say purdue told the attorneys if they don't take this deal the company will declare bankruptcy, and they warned that could result in much less money phillip? >> all right, kristen, than

richard sackler's deposition from a 2015 lawsuit. >> do you know how much the sackler family has madee of oxycontin? >> i don't know. >> but fair to say it's over a billion dollars? >> it would be fair to say that, yes. >> do you know if it's over $10 billion? i don't think so. >> do you know if it's over $5 billion? >> i don't know. >> all right. >> reporter: that suit was resolved with the settlement. as for the latest talks of a settlement, purdue put out a statement saying this. while purdue pharma is prepared to defend itself vigorously, the company sees little good coming from years of wasteful litigation and appeals. the people and communities affected by the opioid crisis need help now. and john and alisyn, as you point out, all of these details about a possible settlement breaking just on the heels of that important decision in oklahoma in which a judge decided that johnson & johnson needed to be held responsible saying they should pay $572 million. >> all right. stay on this for us. it seems it's developing very quickly. >> thank you. >>> the attorney general of the united s

, there has been an interesting new development in this case as well, where a deposition from richard sackler, who was the ceo from purdue pharma was unsealed and i believe we have that video we can show you courtesy of statin republic check this out. >> sitting here today after all you've come to learn as a witness, do you believe that purdue's conduct in kentucky has led to an excessive or unnecessary amount of opioids being located throughout the commonwealth of kentucky >> i don't believe so. >> do you believe any of purdue's conduct has led to an increase of people being addicted in the commonwealth of kentucky >> no. >> guys, that's so notable nobody had photos until this was up sealed after a court fight. >> literally, we got this video just moments ago prior to airing it and showing it to our viewers. also what is notable is there is this talk that he gave to his employees way back when about the potential for opioids, specifically oxy he said something to the effect of everything from, natural disasters will be our friend because it will increase demand for opioids. the view of this

richard sackler related to a 2015 lawsuit against the company. en to this. >> do you know how much the sackler family has made off the sale of oxycontin? >> i don't know. >> but fair to say it's over a billion dollars? >> it would be fair to say that, yes. >> do you know if it's over $10 billion? >> i don't think so. >> do you know if it's over $5 billion? >> i don't know. >> that lawsuit was resolved with a settlement, this would be a far bigger settlement, certainly the biggest one related to the opioid crisis. and it would essentially resolve all the outstanding claims against purdue. we're talking about thousands of them coming from state, counties, cities, municipalities across the country. >> what does the oklahoma decision against johnson & johnson --cases, and is that drg this motivation to settle? >> it very well could. these discussions have been going on for weeks, if not months, at this point with a federal trial approaching in october. certainly the judge in oklahoma has sent a strong message to pharmaceutical companies. he sided with

richard sackler giving a deposition in a 2015 lawsuit in kentucky. the company waged a three-year legal battle to keep this video secr. , afteallgere today you ve come learn aa wiess, do u believ purd's conic inarketingnd promong oxontin inentuckyaused any the preription ug adctionroblems wlaguing the coonwealth >> ion'believe . >>itting yr today ter all you co to learto win ias a tness, d belieroduce h led excessi or unnessary amount of opids beelocated througut the cmonwealtof keucky? >> i d't lieve so >> dbelieve at any o purd's nduct haled to a incrse in pele being adcted in the commonwealth of kentucky? >> no. sacklert is dr. richard the makerpharma, of oxycontin, part of a deposition he gave. they did not want this video made public. julia lurie, as you listen to this for the first time, can you talk about the significance of his testimony in this affidavit? seemsthe one hand, it completely absurd that he would say that. and on the other, that compan is really step to those lines that we are not responsible for this crisis and are responsible f

there is video of a deposition from richard sackler back in 2015. ow much the sackler family has made off the sale of oxycontin? >> i don't know. >> but fair to say it's over a billion dollars? >> it would be fair to say that, yes. >> do you know if it's over $10 billion? >> i don't think so. >> do you know if it's over $5 billion? >> i don't know. >> all right. >> so that lawsuit was resolved through a settlement. as for the talks now surrounding the possibility of another settlement, this is what purdue is saying. they put out a statement saying whale purdue pharma is prepared to defend itself vigorously in the opioid litigation, the company has made clear it sees little good coming from years of wasteful litigation and appeals. the communities affected by the opioid crisis need help now. alisyn and john, obviously these talks about a possible settlement would have been going on for some time. but these details are breaking on the heels of this landmark decision in oklahoma where a judge sided with the state and decided johnson & johnson was at fau

richard sackler, purdue pharma's former president and current chairman, answered questions, during adeposition for a lawsuit brought by the state of kentucky. the tapes were first obtained by pro publica. >> do you believe that any of purdue's conduct has led to an increase in people being addicted in the commonwealth of kentucky? >> no. >> reporter: purdue settled that case months later for $24 million. yet, years before, the company and three executives had already pleaded guilty in federal court to misleading and defrauding doctors and consumers about oxycontin and agreed to pay more than a $600 million fine. >> for these misrepresentations and crimes, purdue and its executives have been brought to justice. >> reporter: still, the accusations and legal challenges persist. >> before it was a heroin crisis, before it was a fentanyl crisis, it was a prescription drug crisis in this state which was oxycontin. >> reporter: purdue pharma tells cnn while it will defend itself vigorously, they are acting on a solution with plaintiffs because they see little good coming from years of pasta

richard sackler giving a deposition in a 2015 lawsuit in kentucky. the company waged a three-year legal battle to keep this video secret. , ter allg here tod u have ce to lea as a witness,o you beeve pdue' coniin markeng and pmoting oxycontiin kentuy cause any of therescriptn drug addictio probls now plagug thcommonweth? i don't belie so. >> sitti your toy after l yocome to arn to w is as a witnes do bieve produ has d to excsive or necessar amou ofpioids been located througho the comnwnwealtof keuckyky? >> i don't beeve so. do belie that a of rdue's conduchas led an crease ipeople bng addicted in the commononwealth f kentucky? >> no. sacklert is dr. richard the makerpharma, of oxycontin, part of a deposition he gave. they did not want this video made public. julia lurie, as you listen to this for the first time, can you talk about the significance of his testimony in this affidavit? seemsthe one hand, it completely absurd that he would say that. and on t the other, that t mpany isis really step to those lines that we are not responsible for this cris

in a newly released deposition from 2015, richard sackler, purdue's former german claims dr.s were giving oxycontin rave reviews. >> when i did speak to physicians at meetings, i didn't go on sales calls. some meetings and conferences they were extremely enthusiastic about the effectiveness and the safety and the reception their patients had come of response they had to the product. >> martha: but a confidential justice department memo recently tamed by "the new york times" tells a much different story. it shows purdue pharma knew what was happening with oxycontin shortly before the drug was introduced and concealed the information as the drug made them mountains of money and people were dying from painkiller addiction. >> according to the federal investigators number they found at least 117 reports where produce sale reps were towing company that oxycontin had become effectively a popular drug of abuse. >> really? i have not seen that information before. but it could have made a real difference. >> martha: joining me now, jonathan novak, former dea attorney. thank you very m

richard sackler, the former chairman and president of purdue pharma respond to questions under oath.elieve that any of purdue's conduct has led to an increase in people being addicted in the commonwealth of kentucky? >> no. >> reporter: the clips part of a more than eight-hour video deposition from 2015 obtained by the investigative news organization propublica, sackler responding i don't know more than 100 times. >> do you know if it's over $10 billion? >> i don't think so. >> do you know if it's over $5 billion? >> i don't know. >> reporter: sackler questioned about the profiting and alleged aggressive marketing of the drug that's been linked to the u.s. opioid epidemic. >> these tapes represent the first time the public will see a member of the sackler family be questioned about whether or not purdue pharma played a role in spawning the national opioid crisis. >> reporter: on monday, after a 3 1/2-year legal battle brought by stat, which is part of boston globe life sciences media, the kentucky supreme court cleared the way for the release of the court records relating to purdue p

richard sackler. >> do you know whether oxycontin is more powerful or less powerful a drug than morphine? >> depends what you mean by powerful. if powerful means potency, absolutely. it is twice as potent as morphine. >> reporter: the members of the sackler family who own the company made billions developing and selling oxycontin. purdue pharma says it is working actively with top state officials and plaintiffs across multiple states to get a deal done. tom? >> again, more than 2,000 cases. all right, steve, thanks very much. >>> now to the fight to save the amazon. this morning, concern is growing over how the fires and smoke can affect people's lungs, including children as more residents report respiratory problems. this as the battle rages on over funding to fight the flames. matt gutman is on the front lines with the very latest. matt, good morning. >> reporter: tom, good morning. it rained here a little overnight yet you can still smell the smoke in the air. that has increased a sense of urgency with brazil's president seeming to argue with european leaders because he's unhappy abou

sackler and purdue pharma have been fighting off allegations about fueling the opioid epidemic in this country with the introduction of oxycontin in 1996. propublica has retained some video from dr. richard15. listen to this. >> do you know how much the sackler family has made off the sale of oxycontin? >> i don't know. >> but fair to say it's over a billion dollars. >> it would be fair to say that, yes. >> do you know if it's over $10 billion? >> i don't think so. >> do you know if it's over $5 billion? >> i don't know. >> that suit was settled. as for the discussions about a future settlement concerning the federal case this fall, purdue has put out this statement saying while purdue pharma is prepared to defend itself vigorously in the opioid litigation -- these settlement talks are something that would have been going on weeks or months now. but this news coming on the heels of this major oklahoma ruling where a judge sided with the state and said johnson & johnson was at fault for fueling the opioid epidemic there and deciding the company would need to pay some $572 million there. so pharmaceutical companies absolutely are going to be taking note of that ruling. >> does this effecti