Overdose deaths rose 49% among Black Americans from 2019 to 2020, compared with a 26% increase among white Americans, a new study finds.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has reached a new settlement with states over the opioid crisis, the Associated Press reports. Members of the Sackler family, who own the company, have agreed to contribute as much as $6 billion.

States should spend a significant portion of opioid litigation funds on comprehensive approaches to preventing the use of all harmful substances, not just opioids, according to an article in HealthAffairs.

Find more of our must-reads in policy news, including a new nationwide settlement reached by Purdue over its role in the opioid crisis.

View our curated digest of the latest research news, including a study identifying factors associated with opioid overdose after an initial opioid prescription.