SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of working with other municipalities and counties to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the county against manufacturers and wholesalers of prescription opioid pain killers.
County leaders said the county has had to deal with the effects of widespread opioid addiction. County statistics show that in 2016 alone, 64 people died because of an opioid overdose. Spokane County’s death rates due to opioids is one of the highest in the state, at 8.8 per 100,000 from 2012-2016. The Center for Disease Control estimates opioid abuse costs the U.S. $78.5 billion a year.
Officials said as soon as the county and Keller Rohbback LLP gather information and data relevant to the County’s potential claims, a lawsuit will be filed against drug manufacturers and wholesalers of opioid medications who claimed opioids were safe and effectively treated pain, with a low risk for addiction.
Chair of the Spokane County Commissioners, Josh Kerns, stated, “This effort is part of our commitment to build a Spokane County where citizens chose to live, build a career and grow a family. This is a complicated issue and we must hold those responsible for this crisis accountable. Spokane County citizens shouldn’t have to foot the bill.”