Fourteen Rhode Island cities and towns are joining a growing legal attack on the makers of prescription opioids. Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee announced Monday he is leading the local leaders in filing a public nuisance lawsuit targeting makers and wholesalers of prescription opioids.
McKee says in a written statement that the allegations will include falsely representing the risk of addiction to doctors, and failing to monitor, report and investigate suspicious orders of the drugs.
Similar lawsuits are already being considered by a dozen attorneys general including Rhode Island’s Peter Kilmartin. West Virginia — which has the nation’s highest opioid overdose rate – made similar claims in a lawsuit filed in federal court last year. The communities who have signed onto the action include: Warwick, Pawtucket, North Providence and Bristol.
