Montgomery County is taking legal action against the opioid crisis by filing a lawsuit against the opioid industry.
The county is now one of more than a dozen others fighting against opioids in Virginia state courts.
“I think the lawsuit a fantastic idea. Like I said, it might be shocking to some people, but I was going to a pain clinic during my addiction,” said Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader William Curtis.
Celebrate Recovery is a ministry at The Bridge Church in Christiansburg that works with people battling addiction and other issues.
I spoke with the ministry leader of Celebrate Recovering at a Montgomery County Church about the lawsuit and about the work they do to help people in the county battling opioid addiction @WFXRnews pic.twitter.com/DHeNFFNXEn— Eric Pointer WFXR (@EricPointerWFXR) December 7, 2018
Curtis struggled with opioid addiction for nearly 20 years, and says the amount of narcotics he was prescribed was far more than a person would need.
“I believe that there was some intentional marketing that was done, and some manipulation by pharmaceutical companies and the result of that we’re seeing,” said Curtis.
Because of his story and many others, Montgomery County is suing the opioid industry, including manufacturers, distributors, and other who benefited from the drugs.
“I think this issue has had a devastating impact on communities across Virginia,” said Andrew Miller and attorney with Sanford, Heisler, Sharp, LLP, the firm that filed the suit.
“From the furthest most rural in the southwest part of the state, to the urban suburbs of Washington, DC.”
Miller says they hope the lawsuit will help stop the problem, reverse the damages and possibly recover the cost.
Miller says they’ve also filed a motion to combine the more than a dozen other cases suing the industry, similar to this case filed by Montgomery County.
