United States

New Jersey Sues Sackler Family Over Toll of Prescription Opioids

What to Know

  • New Jersey is suing eight members of the family that founded opioid drug maker Purdue Pharma over the lethal toll of the drugs
  • Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the suit Thursday
  • New Jersey is at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more family members over the toll of opioids

New Jersey is suing eight members of the family that founded opioid drug maker Purdue Pharma over the lethal toll of the drugs.

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced the suit Thursday. He says the Sackler family wasn't satisfied with "merely raking in" millions of dollars and instead wanted billions.

Messages have been left with the family's spokespeople. They've denied wrongdoing in response to other states' claims.

New Jersey is at least the 11th state to take legal action against one or more family members over the toll of opioids. Several states have announced allegations against the family in the past month.

Opioids, including prescription painkillers and related drugs such as heroin, were involved in nearly 48,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2017, more than auto accidents kill annually.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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