The following lawsuits were announced or filed since Jan. 17 by two counties, two states and three cities. The suits seek to recover funds spent addressing widespread illicit opioid use in each community.
Plaintiffs named in the suits include drugmakers, drug distributors, a local clinic and pharmacy retailers.
The lawsuits are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Alabama AG takes aim at Purdue Pharma with opioid lawsuit
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Feb. 2 filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, accusing the drugmaker of illegally marketing and selling OxyContin and other opioid drugs.
2. Indiana county files opioid epidemic lawsuit against 20+ drugmakers, distributors
Indianapolis-based attorneys retained by Marshall County, Ind., filed a 165-page lawsuit the week ending Feb. 2 against more than 20 drugmakers and distributors for the companies' alleged roles in facilitating the overuse of opioids.
3. Baltimore sues opioid manufacturers, distributors
The city of Baltimore filed a lawsuit Jan. 31 against drug manufacturers and distributors, as well as a local clinic, in an effort to curb the opioid epidemic.
4. Colorado county 1st in state to file opioid lawsuit against drug companies
Attorneys on behalf of Huerfano County filed a lawsuit Jan. 28 against drugmakers and distributors for allegedly contributing to the county's opioid crisis, marking the first such lawsuit filed by a local government in Colorado.
5. NYC files opioid lawsuit against 8 drugmakers, distributors
Attorneys filed a lawsuit Jan. 23 on behalf of New York City against five drugmakers, three drug distributors and subsidiaries of the companies.
6. Delaware files opioid lawsuit against drug companies, retail pharmacies
Delaware State Attorney General Matt Denn filed a lawsuit Jan. 19 against drugmakers, drug distributors and two pharmacy retailers for the companies' alleged roles in facilitating widespread opioid use in the state.
7. Philadelphia files opioid lawsuit against drugmakers
Philadelphia on Jan. 17 filed a lawsuit against drugmakers for their alleged role in contributing to the nation's ongoing opioid overdose and addiction crisis.
More articles on opioids:
Pennsylvania governor declares opioid epidemic statewide public health emergency
Purdue cuts half of sales force, ends direct opioid marketing to prescribers: 4 things to know
Narcan developers donate 5k doses to Illinois' opioid overdose task force