Apr. 15, 2019
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) and 18 other members of the House Human Services Committee signed a letter sent Friday to Attorney General Josh Shapiro, asking him to sue opioid manufacturers and distributors for unlawful business practices regarding the marketing and sale of their products.
The letter also asks the attorney general to file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of the thousands of Pennsylvania families who have lost loved ones to drug overdoses.
“We need to find a way out of this drug-addiction epidemic. The pharmaceutical companies that flooded the market with opioids need to be held accountable,” Gregory said. “I want to support these grieving families in any way I can.”
Gregory said he supports steps already taken by the Office of the Attorney General to address the opioid crisis.
“Still, we need to continue to spotlight the drug overdoses stealing citizens from every community in this Commonwealth,” he said.
The rate of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania is 42 deaths per 100,000 people, which is nearly double the national average.
The state of Oklahoma and Purdue Pharma, the largest manufacturer of opioids, settled a lawsuit in March for $270 million.
Representative Jim Gregory
80th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
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