City of Worcester Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Drug Manufacturers
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
City of Worcester files lawsuit against opioid drug manufacturers
“We’ve tirelessly undertaken outreach initiatives designed to combat the opioid crisis created by the defendants’ unlawful conduct. The City is seeking damages, not just to be reimbursed for its expenses, but also to halt the unlawful practices and find a way to end the opioid-heroin connection that has cost so many lives and created so much hardship,” said City Manager Edward Augustus.
The law firm of Scott + Scott has been retained by the City to represent it in this litigation on a contingency basis.
The City will not pay any of the costs of the lawsuit.
The Lawsuit
The complaint alleges that prescription opioids are a “gateway drug” to heroin, based on data that approximately 80 percent of heroin users got their start with prescription opioids.
According to the lawsuit, the drug companies placed profits above the health and well-being of their customers and communities in using unethical and unlawful methods to market and distribute opioids. Their improper practices, in turn, created a population addicted to opioids, who then turned to heroin available on the black market.
Resulting addiction problems have had many adverse impacts on communities across the country, including Worcester.
The City will demonstrate numerous categories of expenses incurred, including increases in first responder costs, Narcan acquisition and training, employee health insurance claims and costs and the creation of addiction programs.
Related Articles
- Mass Medical Society Says New Opioid Legislation is “Another Step Forward”
- Gov. Baker Releases Statement in Support of Obama’s Opioid Abuse Proposal
- Family Health Center of Worcester to Receive $352K for Opioid Addiction
- Baker Speaks About Importance of New Opioid Legislation
- McGovern Approves of Obama’s $1.1 Billion to Address Opioid Epidemic
- Worcester Receives the Most State Funding to Combat Heroin and Opioid Crime
- Gov. Baker Calls Announces Media Campaign to End Opioid Addiction
- NEW: MA Medical Society President Calls Opioid Crisis Top Priority
- Gov. Baker Proposes 72 Hour Hold for Opioid Patients in Emergency Departments
- Worcester 1st Responders Receive Grant for Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug
- Monfredo: Opioid Crisis Being Addressed In The State & In Our City Schools
- McGovern Approves of Obama Administration’s Call for $1.1 Billion to Address Opioids
- Newport Manners & Etiquette: Happy Doable Prenups, How to Toast & How to Dunk + Opioid Crisis
- Warren Helps Drive New Funding for Opioid Epidemic, Medical Research Government Spending
- MA Medical Society Says 37K Free Opioid & Pain Management Classes Taken by Prescribers
- Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths Decline by 8.3% in 2017
- Worcester Retains Attorneys Scott + Scott in Opioid Lawsuit
- Mass Medical Society Expands Advocacy on Opioid Crisis
- MA Receives Nearly $12 Million in Federal Funding to Fight Opioid Epidemic
- Sen. Markey to Give Keynote Address at MA Medical Society’s Summit on Opioids
- Award Winning Author Quinones to Discuss Opioid Epidemic in Worcester
- Baker Awards Grants to Fitchburg, Leominster Police to Fight Opioid Abuse
- Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths Decline in MA, Says New Report
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It