Donald Trump raises possibility of suing big pharma over opioid crisis
U.S. President Donald Trump
said on Thursday that he had spoken with U.S. Attorney General Jeff
Sessions about bringing a lawsuit against companies involved in the opioid business.
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Donald and Melania Trump head to Ohio to talk taxes and opioids
“I’ve also spoken with Jeff (Sessions) about bringing a lawsuit against some of these opioid companies,” Trump said at a ‘summit’ hosted by the White House on the nation’s opioid crisis. “Hopefully we can do some litigation against the opioid companies.”
Hundreds of states, counties and cities have sued drugmakers and distributors, saying the manufacturers have deceptively marketed opioids and distributors have failed to take action against indications the painkillers were diverted for improper uses.
WATCH: First responders see 250% spike in opioid-related calls in 2017
On Tuesday, Sessions announced that the federal government would seek
reimbursement from major drug companies and distributors to recoup
costs from the opioid epidemic. The Justice Department will file a
“statement of interest” in consolidated litigation on opioids.
WATCH: Melania Trump embraces mother who lost son to opioid overdose
It was not immediately clear whether, in his remarks at the summit,
Trump was referring to that Justice Department action or pressing for
further steps.
READ MORE:
1 in 8 Canadians have a family member or close friend with an opioid addiction: Poll
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016, the last year with publicly available data.
— Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Lisa Lambert
READ MORE:
Donald and Melania Trump head to Ohio to talk taxes and opioids
“I’ve also spoken with Jeff (Sessions) about bringing a lawsuit against some of these opioid companies,” Trump said at a ‘summit’ hosted by the White House on the nation’s opioid crisis. “Hopefully we can do some litigation against the opioid companies.”
Hundreds of states, counties and cities have sued drugmakers and distributors, saying the manufacturers have deceptively marketed opioids and distributors have failed to take action against indications the painkillers were diverted for improper uses.
WATCH: First responders see 250% spike in opioid-related calls in 2017
WATCH: Melania Trump embraces mother who lost son to opioid overdose
READ MORE:
1 in 8 Canadians have a family member or close friend with an opioid addiction: Poll
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016, the last year with publicly available data.
— Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Lisa Lambert
© 2018 Reuters
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