Justin Fox Burks
Tennessee District Attorney Herbert Slatery III announced Tuesday that the bipartisan coalition of Attorneys General nationwide participating in a multistate investigation into the national opioid epidemic is making headway.
As the number of drug-related deaths rises around the country, it’s increasing in Tennessee as well. In 2016, Tennessee had the highest number of drug overdose deaths in the state’s recorded history: 1,631.
Now, 41 Attorneys General will use documents and information obtained from prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors to determine if there are any unlawful practices in the marketing, sale, and distribution of the drugs.
“The opioid crisis impacts all of us, and is a threat to families in every community in Tennessee and across the country,” Slatery said. “We will use all resources available to identify and hold accountable those parties responsible. There is too much at stake not to attack this problem from all sides.”
The coalition has already served subpoenas for documents from several pharmaceutical companies and their related entities, as well as three well-known opioid distributors.
The goal of the investigation is to determine what role the manufacturers and distributors might have in exacerbating the the current opioid crisis and determine a way to prevent it in the future.
Locally, Memphis City Councilman Edmund Ford, Jr. told a council committee Tuesday that the opioid crisis is one that needs to be legally addressed in Shelby County. Ford says the city should look to pursue litigation against large pharmaceutical companies.
Suing the companies could offset some of the negative economic impacts of opioid-related incidents in the city.
Ford said he plans to present a joint resolution, between city and county, supporting litigation at the Oct. 3 council meeting.