LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In a
unified and unprecedented approach against the opioid drug
industry, the state of Arkansas,
Arkansas counties and Arkansas cities announced that together they
have filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Crittenden County.
This unique litigation approach is unlike any others in the
country and will represent 90 percent of Arkansas's population, with 72 counties and
210 cities participating. It is believed that it will cost billions
to stop the Arkansas opioid
epidemic and that this money should come from the companies that
caused the problem instead of taxpayers.
"Though other lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across
the country, Arkansas is the only
state that has united in this fashion," said Chris Villines, executive director of the
Association of Arkansas Counties.
"Instead of fighting and competing with each other on critically
needed settlement dollars for our cities and counties, all of the
cities and counties are working together to do what's best for
Arkansas."
The epidemic is real and has ravaged Arkansas families for years. While the U.S.
experiences more than 42,000 fatal overdoses a year, Arkansas experiences over 400, a number that
has increased nearly 300 percent since 2000 and coincides with
opioid sales quadrupling. Additionally, Arkansas ranks second in the nation for ages
12-17 in misuse of opioids (4.67%) behind Alabama, which is also the only other state
with a higher opioid prescribing rate than Arkansas, according to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
"It is hard to find anyone who hasn't felt the effects of an
opioid addiction from family, friends or even in themselves," said
Kirk Lane, Arkansas State Drug
Director. "Though great strides have been made recently to curb the
epidemic – especially helping cities fund necessary resources like
the opiate antagonist Naloxone (Narcan) – much more could be done
to fund ongoing programs for education and prevention."
In 2017, there were more opioid prescriptions than people –
enough for every man, woman and child to have 80 pills per year.
Hospitals and rehabilitation systems cannot keep pace with the
influx of victims. The resources of public safety officials are
constantly strained to meet the overwhelming needs of
opioid-related emergencies. As a result, the state of Arkansas, its counties, cities and taxpayers
have funded the enormous societal costs of the opioid epidemic, but
have had insufficient revenue to turn the tide of the epidemic.
"Arkansas's one-voice approach
to this lawsuit is one that gives us a seat at the table," said
Don Zimmerman, executive director of
the Arkansas Municipal League. "Neither the state or any county or
city is big enough alone; this litigation approach ensures that
recovered damages remain in Arkansas."
For more information about the lawsuit, or to find additional
resources on the opioid epidemic in Arkansas, please visit ARCounties.org,
ARML.org or APERMA.com.
About the Association of Arkansas Counties
(AAC)
The AAC supports
and promotes the idea that all elected officials must have the
opportunity to act together in order to solve mutual problems as a
unified group. To further this goal, the AAC is committed to
providing a single source of cooperative support and information
for all counties and county and district officials. To learn more,
visit ARCounties.org or find the AAC on social media @75ARCounties
(Facebook and Twitter) or on LinkedIn.
About the Arkansas Municipal League (AML)
Founded in
1934, the AML exists to act as the official representative of
Arkansas cities and towns before
the state and federal government, to provide a clearinghouse for
information and answers and to offer a forum for discussion and
sharing of mutual concerns. In doing these things, the central
purpose of the AML is to advance the interest and welfare of the
people residing in the cities and towns in Arkansas. To learn more, visit ARML.org or
find the AML on Facebook (@Arkansas.Municipal.League) or Twitter
(@ARMuniLeague).
About the Arkansas Public Entities Risk Management
Association (APERMA)
The APERMA is a comprehensive risk
management program created by and for Arkansas public entities. Its mission is to
provide protection of the physical and financial assets
from a covered loss, to provide responsive claims handling
services that are fair to all members and to provide expert legal
advice and representation related to all public entity operations.
To learn more, visit APERMA.com.
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arkansas-counties-and-cities-file-joint-lawsuit-against-opioid-drug-manufacturers-300617618.html
SOURCE Association of Arkansas
Counties, Arkansas Municipal League, Arkansas Public Entities Risk
Management Association