CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Legal Newsline) – West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced a lawsuit against McKesson Corp. over allegations that the prescription drug distributor failed to identify, detect, report and help stop certain drug orders.
The lawsuit claims that McKesson delivered an estimated 99.5 million doses of hydrocodone and oxycodone to West Virginia in 2007 to 2012. A heavy portion of these deliveries allegedly led to drug abuse across the state. West Virginia during this time had the country’s highest overdose rate and Morrisey’s suit claims McKesson is partially to blame.
“This action represents yet another major step by my office to fight a terrible affliction on our citizenry,” Morrisey said. “We have carefully investigated this matter and believe that McKesson should be held responsible for its alleged failure to comply with the state’s laws.”
Morrisey’s office reports that 10.2 million doses were shipped to Logan County, enough to give more than 276 doses to every man, woman and child in the county. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6.9 percent of adults take a prescription opioid at any given time.
The complaint seeks injunctive relief for alleged violations of West Virginia’s uniform controlled substances act.