West Virginia says J&J, drugmakers caused ‘tsunami’ of addiction

West Virginia’s per capita opioid mortality charge is almost 3 times the nationwide common, US knowledge reveals.

Johnson & Johnson and the three largest US drug distributors have reached nationwide settlements value $26bn to resolve state and native authorities opioid claims however West Virginia was considered one of 5 states that didn't signal on to the J&J portion of that settlement [File: Brian Snyder/Reuters]

West Virginia’s lawyer basic on Monday urged a choose to carry Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and AbbVie Inc’s Allergan answerable for inflicting a “tsunami” of opioid habit within the state.

Legal professional Basic Patrick Morrisey stated throughout his opening assertion in Kanawha County Circuit Courtroom that opioid habit has affected the state’s police forces, hospitals, foster care system and jails, with results that may linger for greater than a era.

“This epidemic has impacted nearly all of West Virginia,” Morrissey stated. “Our lawsuit speaks for all West Virginians who've suffered because of the defendants’ illegal, callous and harmful conduct.”

West Virginia has been hit onerous by the epidemic, with a per capita opioid mortality charge almost 3 times the nationwide common in 2020, in keeping with knowledge from the Nationwide Middle for Well being Statistics.

J&J and the three largest US drug distributors – AmerisourceBergen Corp, Cardinal Well being Inc and McKesson Corp – have reached nationwide settlements value $26bn to resolve state and native authorities opioid claims. West Virginia was considered one of 5 states that didn't signal on to the J&J portion of that settlement.

West Virginia has accused the drug producers of making a “public nuisance” by deceiving prescribers concerning the dangers of opioid painkillers and of violating the state’s Client Credit score and Safety Act.

The businesses’ advertising efforts precipitated opioids to grow to be a standard therapy for power ache in West Virginia, which led to a rise in substance abuse and overdose deaths, in keeping with West Virginia’s criticism.

The businesses have denied the allegations.

Morrisey stated that he expects the trial earlier than Decide Derek Swope will take as much as two months.

Drugmaker Endo Worldwide Plc, which was a co-defendant within the case, reached a $26m settlement with West Virginia on March 30.

Greater than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed in opposition to drugmakers, distributors and pharmacies over the disaster. There have been a wave of current settlements over firms’ accountability for the opioid epidemic.

Final month, Rhode Island and Florida struck settlements to resolve opioid litigation on the eve of trials. Rhode Island reached a deal valued at $107m with Teva and Allergan and Florida settled with Teva, CVS Well being Corp, Allergan and Endo for a mixed $878m.