Boone County Commission considers involvement in opioid lawsuit

The Boone County Commission had its first reading of an agreement between the county and group of law firms on Monday in an effort to fight the opioid crisis.

The goal is to file a lawsuit that will hold drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for the opioid crisis.

“It’s a pain management issue,” said Janet Thompson, Boone County District 2 Commissioner.

She said people often get prescribed opioids from doctors and then abuse them.

“These producers of opioids had told doctors, had told medical schools and had told the AMA that there was no chance that people would get hooked,” Thompson said. “That was a lie and they knew it was a lie.”

She said her goal is to make the “community as whole as possible” with the agreement.

Other cities and counties across mid-Missouri have considered becoming involved in similar lawsuits. The Jefferson City Council rejected a similar lawsuit in February because the city was unsure of how much money it would receive from the litigation and was not willing to put forth city funds for the litigation. Furthermore, Cole County was involved in a similar lawsuit, and since Jefferson City is included in Cole County, the city was worried getting involved in the lawsuit would step on the toes of pending litigation.

Other counties across mid-Missouri such as Pulaski, Phelps, Gasconade, Montgomery and Shelby counties have also filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies.

The second reading of the agreement in Boone County will take place on Thursday.