As the opioid crisis continues throughout New Hampshire, the town of Londonderry is joining other towns with a lawsuit that the state is pursuing against pharmaceutical companies that they feel are exacerbating the crisis through marketing.
Several municipalities such as Nashua, Manchester, and Concord have sued different drug manufacturers and distributors in the effort to hold them responsible for the marketing and overprescription of addictive drugs by doctors.
The Town Council was asked to join what is called a multidistrict litigation back in February of this year to work alongside these municipalities in the case, and since then, it has taken steps to move the lawsuit along.
“Londonderry’s Town Council has long wanted to address the problem of drug addiction and has taken efforts to do so in the past,” explained Assistant Town Manager Lisa Drabik. “Along with the drop-off box at the police station for prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia, this is just another step in this effort.”
Drabik explained that taking part in this lawsuit is important to the town of Londonderry for many reasons. “Our police and fire departments – our first responders – are having to respond to the state’s opioid crisis with the increase in overdoses,” she said. Local welfare service providers are feeling the effects of the crisis as well.
The town has just completed the first step in the process of joining the multidistrict litigation: filing a complaint. The next step will include the discovery process, which includes the exchanging of documents and other evidence between parties. During the discovery, an attorney would come to the Town Council to assist. Drabik was unsure of when exactly this process would begin.
In terms of the New Hampshire’s case being brought to trial, Drabik explained that it could take a while. “There are so many other cases going on, but the Federal District Court in Ohio has the first case set for trial in early 2019.”
This case is much like last year’s lawsuit by Massachusetts officials, who sued pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors for the same purpose. The state of New Hampshire sued Purdue Pharma LP for their production of OxyContin last year, as well. The 168-page document, filed by Attorney Thomas Colantuono, has made it before Senior Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Consumer Protection Bureau James Boffetti.
Bringing people to justice for the crimes that the plaintiffs feel have been committed is the primary focus. Determining the dollar value that would be pursued for damages is hard to determine, but amongst the elements at play for these costs would be: staffing increases for first responders, police and ambulance services, strains put on the foster care system, and the impact that these may have on taxpayers.
Regardless, Perdue Pharma issued a statement last year that completely denied the allegations, saying that they also wish to find a solution to solving the crisis by working with state officials.
“OxyContin accounts for less than two percent of the opioid analgesic prescription market nationally,” the statement read. “We are an industry leader in the development of abuse-deterrent technology, advocating for the use of prescription drug monitoring programs and supporting access to naloxone – all important components for combating the opioid crisis.”
The case will be presided over by U.S. District Judge Joseph A. DiClerico Jr. of Concord.