What to Know
- County officials say the companies encouraged doctors to prescribe the powerful pills without warning of addiction risks
- Reps for the pharma companies didn't immediately respond to requests for comment
- Purdue Pharma settle a similar case with Kentucky last year but admitted no wrongdoing
Suffolk County is suing the makers of the pain medication OxyContin and other drug manufacturers alleging that the companies are misleading the public and doctors about the addictiveness of painkillers.
The lawsuit was filed in a state court on Wednesday.
The county, on the eastern half of Long Island, targets OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma as well as Johnson & Johnson, Endo and subsidiaries of the companies.
Suffolk County officials say the companies encouraged doctors to prescribe powerful pain pills without properly warning them of the risks of addiction.
Representatives for the pharmaceutical companies didn't immediately respond to comment requests.
Purdue Pharma settled a similar lawsuit with the state of Kentucky for $24 million last year, but admitted no wrongdoing.
