Posted: | June 15, 2017 11:04 AM |
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From: | Senator Jay Costa |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Resolution Urging the Governor and the Attorney General to Sue Opioid Companies |
Very soon, I will be introducing a resolution to urge the Governor and the Attorney General to initiate lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that are engaging in deceptive and unfair marketing practices. This is a companion resolution to HR 363, introduced by my colleague, Representative Thomas Caltagirone. For too long, the Commonwealth and our local communities have suffered from the opioid epidemic. Thousands of overdose deaths have been caused, in part, by opioid manufacturers that have engaged in a nationwide marketing campaign that has encouraged the over-prescribing of opioids and misled both prescribers and the public about the highly-addictive nature and dangerous side effects of these pharmaceuticals. In 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported 4,642 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania, with heroin or at least one other opiate or opioid present in 85% of cases. Moreover, it has produced an enormous drain on our statewide budget and local community resources to combat this crisis and the underlying deception of these opioid drug companies. As such, this resolution requests that any funds recovered from these lawsuits be placed in a reserve account to be used for drug, alcohol and mental health treatment programs. Please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution. |
Introduced as SR173