Cruz sponsors bill to urge Attorney General action on opioid crisis

Rep. Angel Cruz    April 4, 2019 | 2:17 PM

HARRISBURG, April 4 – State Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Phila., today announced legislation that would urge the attorney general to file a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies, distributors and manufacturers that have contributed to the state's opioid addiction and overdose crisis.

“I am urging the attorney general to pursue wrongful-death suits on behalf of the thousands of Pennsylvania families that have lost loved ones to this epidemic,” Cruz said. “Great strides have been taken -- including a statewide disaster declaration and making naloxone available to everyone to help save thousands of lives from overdose death. But Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that has yet to pursue legal action over this opioid problem. We need to get to the root of the problem, and that started decades ago with the questionable and possibly illegal marketing and sales of these opioids.”

Nearly 5,500 drug-related overdose deaths occurred in Pennsylvania in 2017 alone.

Purdue Pharma recently settled its first lawsuit with Oklahoma on March 26, 2019.

Cruz noted that Pennsylvania needs to act now to save as many lives as possible.

More information about Cruz' legislation and other state-related matters is available by contacting his Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925.

###

Send Feedback