New York Reaches A $1.1 Billion Opioid Deal With The Nation''s Big Drug Wholesalers New York''s attorney general has reached a $1.1 billion settlement with three of the nation''s largest drug distributors linked to their alleged role in the prescription opioid epidemic. "Over the course of these past two decades, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen distributed these opioids without regard to the national crisis they were helping to fuel," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement sent to NPR. The companies, which rank among the largest corporations in the U.S., will spread their payments out over the next 17 years. They will also admit no wrongdoing. This development came as the companies faced the prospect of a lengthy civil trial in New York. A separate trial against the drug distributors is underway in West Virginia, with closing arguments expected next week. As part of the New York settlement, the companies have agreed to take part in a new tracking system designed to better control the amount of opioids sold and shipped to pharmacies nationwide.