The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously Monday to support the prosecuting attorney's lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies, saying they are responsible for the opioid crisis.
The lawsuit is filed against Purdue Pharma, the makers of Oxycontin, and McKesson Pharmaceutical, distributors of Oxycontin and other opioids, as well as others. The lawsuit alleges that the companies caused significant harm by ignoring criminal activity and recklessly diverting drugs into the black market, a market it says fed Snohomish County.
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"It's fairly clear that there was a problem early on that was not addressed by the companies. This is a call out to big pharma that it's time to step up," said Dave Somers, Snohomish County executive.
For Somers, the opioid crisis is personal, and he knows many others in Snohomish County feel the same way. He says he's holding drug companies personally responsible for prescription opioids through a lawsuit by the county.
"My father-in-law a number of years ago became addicted to prescription opioids, and had what I consider free and open access to way more than what I consider rational," Somers said.
Snohomish County's lawsuit is separate from one mounted by the city of Everett. It also joins a growing list of municipalities suing drug companies over opioids.
"This is not a cookie-cutter lawsuit, this lawsuit specifically talks about what's happening in Snohomish County and we want our voice to be heard around the nation," said Adam Cornell, the Snohomish County prosecuting attorney.
Purdue Pharma officials recently told CBS News in response to a suit in Massachusetts that there was a rush to vilify the company and it promoted opioids based on medical and scientific guidelines.
Cornell says his suit will go after manufactures and distributors and could at some point even name the owners of Purdue Pharma.
Cox Media Group
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