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Dayton, Lorain Sue Drug Makers And Distributors For Alleged Role In Opioid Crisis

WCBE 90.5FM | By Jim Letizia,

Published June 6, 2017 at 5:18 AM EDT

The cities of Dayton and Lorain are suing drug companies amid the state's opioid crisis. Their lawsuits go further than one filed recently by the Ohio Attorney General because they target distributors such as Dublin-Based Cardinal Health, as well as some out-of-state doctors who prescribed opioids. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

The cities of Dayton and Lorain are filing suit against nearly two dozen drug manufacturers and distributors.

Democratic Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley says the drug companies misled doctors in thinking that the pills were not addictive.

A similar argument in the lawsuit Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine filed last week. But DeWine chose not to go after drug distributors and Whaley is.

Whaley: “We’ve always had the plan to hold everyone accountable and definitely distributors and manufacturers are culpable in it.”

DeWine is expected to run for governor next year. Whaley mentioned action against drug companies in launching her campaign last month.

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Jim Letizia

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.

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