A "deliberate campaign" of fraud and deception from three pharmaceutical companies has led to the current opioid crisis in Missouri, the state's attorney general accused on Wednesday, June 21.
The office of Attorney General Josh Hawley filed a lawsuit the very same day against Johnson & Johnson, Purdue Pharma LP, and Endo International Plc for allegedly misrepresenting the dangerous risks of opioid painkillers, which has triggered an epidemic nationwide.
Missouri has become the third state in the United States to do so, along with Mississippi and Ohio.
Campaign Of Fraud, Deception
The attorney general said these three pharmaceutical companies knew the opioids they sell are highly addictive and "life-threatening" when misused, but their reportedly fraudulent marketing campaigns convince consumers and doctors in Missouri otherwise.
Hawley said the companies repeatedly lied about the risks of the drugs they sold by using bogus organizations as front and disseminating fake research.
"They used fraudulent advertising and deceptive trade practices," said Hawley.
The lawsuit filed by Missouri accuses the three companies of violating the state's consumer protection laws as well as its Medicaid statutes. In return, Missouri seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in civil penalties and damages.
"We come to hold these companies accountable," the attorney general said.
In Missouri, approximately 500 residents have died because of opioid overdose or complications, while 300 residents died because of heroin misuse in 2015, Hawley said.
National Opioid Epidemic
The crisis is far from over. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that every day, 91 people die from opioid overdose in the United States, and that the number may even be underestimated.
In fact, in 2015, opioids have killed more than 33,000 people, more than any year on record, the CDC said.
Furthermore, in 2012, doctors in the United States wrote nearly 259 million opioid prescriptions. The number is 10 million more than the number of adults living in the country, Hawley said.
Responding To The Allegations
The three pharmaceutical companies involved in the lawsuit have responded to allegations of fraud and deception.
Purdue Pharma has denied the claims and explained that they share the attorney general's concern over the current opioid crisis.
"We are committed to working collaboratively to find solutions," the company said in a statement.
Endo declined to comment on the current litigation, but the company also said it shared the goal of the Food and Drug Administration to prevent misuse of opioid products.
Lastly, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceuticals said it recognizes that the opioid epidemic is a serious public health issue and that the company has acted responsibly in the best interests of patients.
