ANCHORAGE — The state of Alaska has filed a lawsuit against three major opioid distributors, alleging the companies violated state law by failing to report suspicious orders and diversion of prescription drugs.
Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth has filed suit against McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Company, alleging the companies did not report obvious fraudulent distribution of prescription opioids, which resulted in patient addiction and, in some cases, deaths from overdoses. According to the Attorney General's Office, the companies oversupplied opioids into the state and failed to suspend illicit orders.
“Alaska’s opioid crisis directly impacts people’s lives," Lindemuth said in a statement. "We are determined to address the opioid epidemic in Alaska, and to hold accountable those who created it. There’s no denying that the oversupply of highly addictive opioids led to the public health emergency in our state.
"Those responsible for this must answer for their actions in order to make the necessary changes for us to move forward. By failing to monitor and prevent the excessive amounts of opioids shipped into the state of Alaska, we believe these distributors played a central role in creating the opioid epidemic in our state.”
The attorney general also alleges that the three drug companies worked to increase sales and profits from opioid drugs even in the wake of several enforcement action, fines and other warning signs.