Cabell County WV sues drug companies over massive oxy influx

[Tanuki]

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/_recent_news/cabell-becomes-latest-to-file-suit-against-drug-firms/article_48451b28-04f1-11e7-83e4-5788deaa1103.html

"The Cabell County Commission has become the latest to file a lawsuit against drug firms in an effort to recoup money lost due to the substance abuse epidemic.
.........

According to a complaint filed by Paul Farrell Jr., the lawsuit alleges the companies are to known to have sold more than 40 million doses of opioid pain medicine in Cabell County between 2007 and 2012, while the county's population was 96,319, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.


The lawsuit is seeking compensation and punitive damages from the companies for the creation of a public nuisance.

The county joins a dozen cities and municipalities which have filed, or have announced intentions to file, lawsuits against drug firms and pharmacies after the successful $36 million settlement of a West Virginia lawsuit alleging similar claims.

In January, the commission declared pain medications in the county a public nuisance under West Virginia State Code and hired the law firm of Greene, Ketchum, Farrell, Bailey & Tweel to pursue legal action against those in the chain of distribution.

A recent investigation by the Charleston Gazette-Mail found drug wholesalers shipped 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to West Virginia in six years, a period when 1,728 people statewide died of overdoses.

On Jan. 9, two of the major prescription drug distributors agreed to pay $36 million to settle a West Virginia lawsuit alleging they fueled the state's opioid epidemic with excessively large shipments of painkillers into the state over several years..."

[exboyfil]

1. So who is writing the prescriptions?

They should be going after them as well.

[phylny]

2. Amazing.

You know, I had hydrocodone after my surgery two years ago and I was rushing to get off of it. Not that I have drug/alcohol issues but I do have an addictive personality. My surgery was on Monday and I tried not taking anything on Saturday, but suffered. My last doses were on Sunday and then I quit.

My husband just had a procedure, and he, too, is cautious about taking it.

One thing people around here always tell us is, "Don't let anyone know if you're having surgery or a dental procedure, because they'll break into your house to find drugs."

It's a horrible epidemic.

[hollowdweller]

3. I always found for actual pain

That when I took something like that more than 3 days in a row the effectiveness really goes down. It's easy to see how people get addicted.

Oh and I live in Cabell Co WV.

Think if we charged 1 penny per pill tax and used that to fund treatment on demand.

[Tanuki]

4. I'm 7th generation Wayne County but don't live there now.