Ohio accuses 4 drug distributors of helping fuel opioid epidemic

Drug distributors "knew the amount of opioids allowed to flow into Ohio far exceeded what could be consumed for medically necessary purposes, but they did nothing to stop it," Ohio Attorney General says.

Lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for increased costs incurred for healthcare and criminal justice

Thomson Reuters Posted: Feb 26, 2018 4:28 PM EST | Last Updated: February 26, 2018

A person lays on their back while holding drug paraphernalia. — Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. (CBC)

Ohio on Monday accused four majorpharmaceutical distributors of ignoring their responsibilitiesto ensure that opioids were not being diverted for improperuses, contributing to a drug abuse epidemic in the state.

The lawsuit by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine was filedin a state court against McKesson Corp., Cardinal HealthInc., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and Miami-Luken Inc. and marked the second he has pursued over corporations' roles inthe opioid crisis.

"They knew the amount of opioids allowed to flow into Ohiofar exceeded what could be consumed for medically necessarypurposes, but they did nothing to stop it," DeWine said in astatement.

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The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the increasedcosts Ohio incurred for healthcare, criminal justice, socialservices and education. It also seeks punitive damages.

Representatives for the companies did not immediatelyrespond to requests for comment. They have previously deniedsimilar allegations in other cases.

Opioids were involved in more than 42,000 overdose deaths in the U.S.in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention. The number of overdose deaths in Canada in 2017 is expected to surpass 4,000, outpacing 2016's total of 2,861 opioid-related fatalities.

Hundreds of lawsuits by states, counties and cities haveaccused drugmakers of pushing addictive painkillers throughdeceptive marketing and wholesale distributors of failing toreport suspicious drug orders.

DeWine previously in May 2017 sued Purdue Pharma, Endo International, Johnson & Johnson, Allergan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, accusing them of deceptively marketing opioids. They have denied wrongdoing.

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Ohio Attorney General files lawsuit against opioid distributors for practices fueling opioids

Ohio accuses 4 drug distributors of helping fuel opioid epidemic

Lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for increased costs incurred for healthcare and criminal justice

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