Ventura County to sue drug makers over opioid epidemic

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — Ventura County leaders have voted to sue drug manufacturers, marketers and distributors to recoup the costs of treatment, law enforcement and other expenses linked to the opioid addiction crisis.

The Ventura County Star reports the Board of Supervisors voted 5 to 0 on Tuesday to authorize the litigation.

The newspaper says officials expect the suit to be consolidated with other cases filed in federal court.

Several California counties are suing drug makers and pharmacy chains. The filings claim the firms created a public nuisance by manufacturing and distributing prescription painkillers that left 64,000 people dead in the United States in 2016 alone.

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Information from: Ventura County Star, http://venturacountystar.com