PG County Suing The Entire Opioid Industry

UPPER MARLBORO, MD -- Prince George's County has announced a lawsuit "all facets of the opioid business" as an addiction crisis mounts in the county and nationwide.

Prince George's County Chief Executive Rushern Baker, joined by other local officials, will announce the lawsuit at Fire Station 26 at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The county has hired the firm of Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC, to serve as legal counsel, according to a county statement.

The county claims that the opioid industry is "causing addiction as well as increased use of resources to combat the growing problem," the statement reads.

"Over the last several years, we have seen a dramatic rise in opioid and fentanyl overdose deaths and the detrimental impact they have had on our residents as well as our government," Baker said in the statement. "PGFD paramedics are running twice as many opioid and fentanyl overdose calls as they have in previous years and our Health Department has been working tirelessly to promote public education, prevention, and identify resources regarding opioid abuse. The scourge of this health crisis is affecting Prince Georgians countywide.

"Families are losing loved ones to overdose deaths and need financial resources to get family members help from addiction," Baker continued. "This crisis is also costing the County government and it is incumbent upon us to hold the opioid manufacturers accountable for the damage they have done to our communities."

Opioid addiction has become a nationwide epidemic. More than 183,000 Americans have died from opioid-related overdoses in the last 16 years, and death rates continue to rise.

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