This Texas county is suing Big Pharma for the opioid crisis

The county says that opioid use and addiction has cost it millions of dollars.

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Williamson County in Texas has filed a lawsuit against manufacturers, distributors, and retails of pharmaceutical opioids for negligence and fraudulent marketing of products.

The county’s lawsuit states that they have and continue to spend “large sums combating the public health crisis.” The suit was filed against Purdue Pharma LP, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Endo Health SolutionsAbbott Laboratories, Knoll Pharmaceutical, and other manufacturers as well as retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.

Arguing that these companies have caused harm and death to residents for their role in opioid production and distribution, Williamson County is asking for damages more than $1 million and less than $100 million.

The county says that opioid use and addiction has raised health care costs and has affected the child protection agencies due to the influx of children with parents dealing with opioid addiction entering foster care.

Williamson County is not the first part of Texas to sue Big Pharma. Not only have other counties, such as Travis County which filed a lawsuit in February last year, but the State of Texas has personally sued Pursue Pharma for their prescriptions of opioids.

Every day, more than 130 people in the U.S. die after overdosing on opioids, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the total “economic burden” of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year. The Midwestern region has seen the worst of the opioid epidemic, with opioid overdoses rising 70 percent from July 2016 to September 2017.

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Alexandra Jacobo is a dedicated progressive writer, activist, and mother with a deep-rooted passion for social justice and political engagement. Her journey into political activism began in 2011 at Zuccotti Park, where she supported the Occupy movement by distributing blankets to occupiers, marking the start of her earnest commitment to progressive causes. Driven by a desire to educate and inspire, Alexandra focuses her writing on a range of progressive issues, aiming to foster positive change both domestically and internationally. Her work is characterized by a strong commitment to community empowerment and a belief in the power of informed public action. As a mother, Alexandra brings a unique and personal perspective to her activism, understanding the importance of shaping a better world for future generations. Her writing not only highlights the challenges we face but also champions the potential for collective action to create a more equitable and sustainable world.

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