Over 70,000 dead from opioid abuse and addiction in 2017 in the United States alone.
... It is the first of 2,000 cases brought by state, local and tribal governments against pharmaceutical firms in the U.S.
BIG PHARMA TERRORISM
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/28/johnson-johnson-opioid-trial-oklahoma
On average, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day... In 2017, of the 70,200 people who died from an overdose, 68% involved a prescription or illegal opioid.
Johnson & Johnson produces a fentanyl patch which can be prescribed for severe pain.
Oklahoma argues that Johnson & Johnson created a public nuisance which will cost between $12 to $18 billion to remedy over the next 20 years.
Earlier this month, Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to an $85 million settlement with Oklahoma over a similar lawsuit which claimed opioids had contributed to the deaths of thousands of people.
Purdue Pharma reached a $270 million settlement with Oklahoma. The wealthy Sackler family, which owns the firm, charged with fraudulently transferring money from the company to protect its funds from litigation.
Oklahoma has the second highest uninsured rate in the nation and little money for public health. In the U.S. the motto is do harm first, and deal half-ass with the consequences later. The domestic terrorism of opioids.