Travis Co. pursuing legal action in opioid crisis

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas - Travis County officials are taking on “Big Pharma.”

They're preparing to sue opioid distributors, manufacturers and marketers for harm caused to the county and its citizens.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and prevention has a tab dedicated on its website to address what it refers to as an opioid epidemic. The agency said from 2000 to 2015 more than half a million people died from overdoses.                

Judge Sarah Eckhardt said Travis County also suffers from opioid addiction.

"Our medical examiner's office that reviews all suspicious deaths has statistics with regard to the amount of drugs and alcohol in peoples’ systems who die under suspicious circumstances,” she said. “Plus, we've seen this incredible surge of possession of a controlled substance in our jail. We've capped our overall number of jail beds at 27-hundred so this puts a very big strain on our criminal justice system as well as putting a big strain on our health community."

She feels the public health crisis was created, in some measure, by the pharmaceutical industry pushing specific pain medicine with high addiction rates for economic reasons.

Commissioners adopted a resolution to authorize the filing of a civil suit against opioid distributors, manufacturers and marketers. They've contracted with an outside attorney to determine what actions are most appropriate. No companies have been named.

"It's always been an option for us when we see that there is an industry that is taking advantage of a circumstance and really putting people in harm's way. We have a track record of addressing these issues when we see a corporate actor that is behaving in a way that preys on Travis County residents."

Counties across the state and nation are taking the same action. 

On Tuesday Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America announced a multimillion dollar initiative to combat the epidemic. Also launching a partnership with the addiction policy forum to fund state and local programs.
                
Eckhardt said any money gained from a lawsuit will cover costs to the county as well as address opioid addiction here locally.

"We take this very seriously in terms of the health of our community and Travis County residents who are suffering with addiction,” said Eckhardt.