PWC to investigate potential legal action against opioid manufacturers and distributors

Prince William Board of County Supervisors authorized the County Attorney Dec. 4 to engage with outside legal counsel to investigate potential legal actions against entities engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of opioids.

The Board’s action comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the Virginia Attorney General against Purdue Pharmaceuticals and its subsidiaries earlier this year. Any and all damages recovered in that lawsuit would be awarded to the Commonwealth, not to the individual localities affected by opioid addiction.

As a result of the opioid epidemic, Prince William County has experienced significant adverse impacts to the delivery of emergency medical services, law enforcement services, mental health and substance abuse services throughout the county.

“Prince William County is in the midst of an opioid crisis, like many other jurisdictions around the country,” said Corey Stewart, Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “This crisis comes at a high cost to our community. The Board’s action allows the County to identify what legal means are available to recoup some of the County and taxpayer expenses from the pharmaceutical and medical industry.”