B.C. amends legislation to support lawsuit against opioid manufacturers
Posted October 17, 2022 4:02 pm.
Last Updated October 17, 2022 4:03 pm.
The B.C. government has made changes to its opioid legislation, a move that will allow the federal government to join the province’s class-action lawsuit against drug manufacturers.
The changes announced on Monday are to the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. In addition to allowing the federal government to join the class-action suit, the changes also expand the number of defendants to include directors and officers of the companies in question.
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B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcomson says the province has led the country in holding opioid producers accountable.
“Nothing will ever replace the lives lost in our province, but we keep using every tool in our toolbox – from prevention to safe supply to treatment – to turn the tide on this terrible crisis,” she said in a release.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the B.C. government is working to address the damage opioids have done to families in the province.
“That’s why we are introducing these amendments, which will permit the expansion of the legal action against more than 40 opioid distributors and manufacturers,” he said.
Read More: Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma reaches $150M settlement with B.C., Canada
The B.C. government launched the class-action lawsuit in 2018 on behalf of provincial and territorial governments across the country. It is intended to “recover costs for health care provided to patients that resulted from wrongful conduct of opioid manufacturers, distributors, and their consultants,” the province says.
The lawsuit alleges the manufacturers engaged with the province using “deceptive marketing practices” to increase sales, which it says led to higher rates of addiction and overdose.
Earlier in the year, Purdue Pharma Canada reached a settlement with the province to cover healthcare costs related to opioids. Purdue is one of over 40 manufacturers and distributors named in the lawsuit.
“The provinces, territories, and Canadian government will continue to aggressively work together until all defendants have been held accountable,” the B.C. government said.
