Seattle, state sue 'Big Pharma' over pain pill marketing
Source: Seattle PI
Attorneys for the city of Seattle and Washington state are going after pharmaceutical companies they say fueled the country's opioid epidemic by hiding the risk of addiction posed by popular pain pills.
In a Thursday press conference at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, City Attorney Pete Holmes and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced two lawsuits against major drug companies.
Those named as defendants in the Seattle suit including Purdue Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, among several others. The state named only Purdue, the maker of OxyContin, as a defendant.
"Purdue has made billions of dollars by fueling Washington's opioid epidemic by knowingly deceiving doctors and the public about the risks of long-term opioid use," Ferguson said.
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Seattle-Washington-suing-opioid-manufacturers-12237527.php
BigmanPigman
(51,640 posts)I am glad the state is doing something more substantial than the fed.govt.
BBG
(2,556 posts)Seems to be involved in or leading efforts to oppose some heavy weight injustices. Go Bob, go!
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)Otherwise, it's either blowing smoke, or a money grab.
Basically the entire f***ing WORLD, and ESPECIALLY DOCTORS ... has known opioids are addictive drugs (i.e. 'long term use will make you dependent') ... for, I dunno ... 2000 years?
Purdue already paid out BILLION$ to the Federal Government like 12 years ago for their sketchy marketing of OC in the late 1990's. So now, what, is every single state going to sue them for the same crime as well, nearly 20 years hence?
Shit is getting a little ridiculous here, and I say this as someone with the utmost compassion, as well as desire to see REAL help for people with drug problems, BELIEVE ME. I have ... much personal experience.
But at a certain point ... you gotta say 'c'mon now'. Let's take SOME personal responsibility here. DOCTORS especially!
If they win, they BETTER USE the money to HELP PEOPLE.
ileus
(15,396 posts)Aristus
(66,478 posts)Glad something is finally being done. Naturally it's our state, and not someplace like West Virginia, where opioid addiction is the un-official state pastime.