Wisconsin Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Against Creator of OxyContin
Friday, May 17th, 2019 -- 7:45 AM
(WRN) -Wisconsin is joining several other states in a lawsuit against the company that created OxyContin.The state of Wisconsin is joining several other states in a lawsuit against Perdue Pharma, the creator of OxyContin. Attorney general Josh Kaul says the company and its leader Richard Sackler conspired to deceive the public about the drug to push sales.
"Benefits of opioids were overstated in an effort to change the culture regarding the prescription of opioids, to reduce the reluctance that the public had in taking opioids and the reluctance that prescribers had in prescribing opioids."
Kaul says Perdue Pharma and its leader Sackler deliberately misled both the public and doctors about the dangers of opioids like OxyContin in order to push doctors to over prescribe the drug.
"Prohibitions against deceptive marketing in general, prohibitions against deceptive marketed in the sale of prescription drugs, their conduct constitutes a public nuisance."
Kaul says Perdue Pharma and its leadership deliberately deceived doctors and patients about the dangers of opioids like OxyContin.
"This was not inevitable. We allege that the opioid epidemic is in part attributable to the deceptive marketing practices of Perdue Pharma, which Richard Sackler played a significant role in directing and overseeing."
Iowa, Kansas, Maryland and West Virginia are all joining in the lawsuit.
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