The Louisville Metro Government filed a lawsuit against three opioid distributors, alleging they failed to disclose suspicious orders of prescription opioids to the Drug Enforcement Administration and thus contributed to the proliferation of opioids in the city.
The lawsuit was filed Monday under the direction of Democratic Mayor Greg Fischer and Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell. The suit implicates AmerisourceBergen Drug Co., Cardinal Health and McKesson Corp.
"We have a lost generation of people addicted to opiates, and many have now migrated to heroin," said Mr. Fischer. "Wholesale distributors need to be held accountable for this epidemic by cleaning up the mess they've created through treatment for those struggling with addiction, educating our youth to understand the danger of opioid abuse and keeping our communities safe."
Since 2012, more than 197 million doses of prescription opioids have been distributed in Jefferson County. Louisville's emergency services responded to 695 opioid-related overdose calls in January alone.
Cincinnati filed a comparable lawsuit Aug. 15.
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