Indeed, states and localities have set out on their own to force opioid makers and distributors to dish out their own funding to help mitigate the widespread effects of addiction. Besides Beshear, attorneys general in West Virginia, Ohio, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania — five of the 10 states with the highest overdose death rates — are also suing opioid makers. Although there are similarities, some legal experts say it could be a longer legal reach to convince courts that opioid makers can be held responsible for the abuse of their products. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a hearing on the opioid crisis on Tuesday . The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on combating the opioid crisis on Wednesday .

Source: Washington Post February 26, 2018 13:30 UTC