The state of Massachusetts has announced that it is suing Purdue Pharma over OxyContin related deaths, claiming that it played a role in the deaths of hundreds of Massachusetts people.

Earlier this month, State Attorney General Maura Healey announced that the state is suing Purdue Pharma over the deaths of 670 Massachusetts residents. The state claimed that these people were prescribed OxyContin, became addicted to opioids, overdosed on the drugs, and died as a result.

The state alleges that Purdue Pharma violated Massachusetts consumer protection laws by misleading doctors and patients when they called OxyContin “the gold standard” for pain medication, according to WBUR. Allegedly, the company intentionally underplayed warnings and research that showed that OxyContin and related drugs are extremely addictive.

Attorney General Healey claims that the company intentionally targeted vulnerable populations like veterans and seniors in an attempt to sell more drugs and increase their profits, allegedly disregarding patient health and taking advantage of the addictive qualities of the drugs to sell more.

The state claims that Purdue Pharma actively contributed to the nation-wide opioid epidemic and OxyContin overdose cases, and that “Purdue Pharma and its executives built a multimillion-dollar business based on deception and addiction,” WBUR reports.

Experts say that opioids are only safe for short term use, as they are highly addictive and can be dangerous. Yet many drug companies like Purdue Pharma advertise the drugs for long-term use. Allegedly, this practice leads many patients who do not need opioids long-term to develop dangerous additions to the drugs while boosting the companies’ profits.

Massachusetts’ opioid lawsuit comes on the heels of complaints made by twelve other states against the company, and amidst a growing conversation about big pharmaceutical companies’ role in the opioid crisis. However, Healey reports that Massachusetts’ allegations are the first to specifically implicate company executives, whereas other claims just targeted the company as a whole.

Purdue denies the allegations, stating: “We share the Attorney General’s concern about the opioid crisis. We are disappointed, however, that in the midst of good faith negotiations with many states, the Commonwealth has decided to purse a costly and protected litigation process. We will continue to work collaboratively with the states toward bringing meaningful solutions.”

As part of their efforts to ameliorate the situation, the company has reportedly restructured and reduced its commercial operation, instructing sales representatives to no longer promote opioids like OxyContin to prescribers.

Nonetheless, Governor Charlie Baker argues that this effort is insufficient and comes far too late, as OxyContin overdose cases and opioid addictions continue to increase in Massachusetts and across the United States. Baker calls on Purdue to account for the “decisions they made and the wreckage they left behind.”

Healey and her staff reportedly are working not only internally in Massachusetts but also with other attorneys general to investigate the role of pharmaceutical companies in the opioid crisis. This may leave the door open for more lawsuits and settlements over damage done by companies, and may give individuals affected by the crisis an opportunity to receive compensation for injury incurred by the opioid epidemic. 

In general, opioid overdose death lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

If your loved died from an opioid overdose in the last three years from an addiction that began as a legal opioid prescription from his or her doctor, you may have a legal claim. Get help now by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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