Forsyth County considers suing opioid manufacturers

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. - Forsyth County could join another metro area and a more than a hundred county governments nationwide in filing a lawsuit against big pharmaceutical companies, in response to the overwhelming opioid crisis hitting the nation.

Nearby, Fulton County announced their lawsuit against drug manufacturers in October.

Forsyth County officials said its attorneys are reviewing the options for the lawsuit, which could include demanding companies modify their warning labels, fund anti-addiction education campaigns, and even paying for the overwhelming costs facing county first responders who rush to overdose calls.

"These lawsuits are sort of a desperation-- they're a reaction to how critical and tragic a problem that we're facing," said Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills.

County officials said deputies and firefighters have responded to more than 30 overdose calls in one year; 22 of those people have died from a drug overdose or suicide by taking drugs, said Commissioner Mills.

"Pharmaceutical companies and the doctors that are overprescribing should be held responsible to some level," said Board Chairman Todd Levent, comparing the legal action nationwide to similar action decades ago against tobacco companies.

Levent said the county could possibly take some sort of legal action by the end of the year.

Legal experts nationwide debate the effectiveness of the lawsuits, which some say place blame on companies abiding by current federal and state laws for manufacturing and distributing medication.

Purdue Pharma, one of the companies named in multiple suits that are known for manufacturing OxyContin, released the following statement

The Board of Commissioners plans to meet on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the issue and attorney recommendations.