Anne Arundel County has filed a lawsuit against national opioid manufacturers and distributors, as well as local opioid prescribers arguing their actions have contributed to the opioid crisis.
The Capital Gazette reports that claims include misleading doctors and medical practices about drug effects, deceptive marketing practices, and direct payments to local physicians. The article notes that national players named in the suit include:
They include Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, Endo Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Percocet, Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Insys Therapeutics, the manufacturer of Subsys, a sublingual spray of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which officials say is magnitudes more potent than morphine and heroin.
Additional players listed in the article include local prescribers — some of which have also been sued by the state’s Attorney General’s office. The article explains how the lawsuit fits into the bigger picture of suits filed by the law firm representing the county and others around the nation in order to hold the companies accountable.
For more information:
Anne Arundel sues opioid manufacturers, distributors and local prescribers (Capital Gazette)
