APD Chief: Purdue 'Major And Shameful' Part Of Opioid Crisis

ARLINGTON, MA – Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan has made it clear who he believes is responsible for the opioid crisis. At a press conference Tuesday announcing Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, Ryan said the OxyContin manufacturer played a "major" role in driving the epidemic.

"The opioid epidemic that has taken many lives and ruined so many more has many causes, but the evidence clearly demonstrates that Purdue Pharma played a major and shameful role in fueling this public health crisis," Ryan said. "In fact, a recent New York Times story reports that Purdue knew about widespread abuse of its OxyContin product as far back as 1996. I am proud to stand with Attorney General Healey in this effort and I applaud her extraordinary leadership."

Healey's suit claims Purdue Pharma misled prescribers and consumers about the addiction and health risks of its opioids to profit off increased doses and higher frequency of use. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Suffolk Superior Court, says Purdue Pharma "created the epidemic and profited from it through a web of illegal deceit."

The defendants in the AG’s complaint are Connecticut-based companies Purdue Pharma Inc. and Purdue Pharma L.P., current and former Purdue CEOs Craig Landau, John Stewart and Mark Timney and current and former members of Purdue Pharma Inc.’s board of directors Richard Sackler, Theresa Sackler, Kathe Sackler, Jonathan Sackler, Mortimer D.A. Sackler, Beverly Sackler, David Sackler, Ilene Sackler Lefcourt, Peter Boer, Paulo Costa, Cecil Pickett, Ralph Synderman, and Judy Lewent.

The Sackler family has sole ownership of Purdue and holds the majority of the seats on Purdue Pharma Inc.’s board, according to a press release.

In a statement to the Boston Globe, Purdue denied Healey's claims and said it wishes to work alongside states to develop solutions to the opioid crisis.

"The attorney general claims Purdue acted improperly by communicating with prescribers about scientific and medical information that FDA has expressly considered and continues to approve," the statement continued. "We believe it is inappropriate for the Commonwealth to substitute its judgment for the judgment of the regulatory, scientific and medical experts at FDA."

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