British Columbia Strengthens Position in Opioid Lawsuit to Recover Health-Care Costs

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British Columbia,Opioid Lawsuit,Health-Care Costs

The minister of mental health and addiction in British Columbia, Dan Williams, announces proposed changes to strengthen the province's position in ongoing class actions against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The lawsuit aims to recover health-care costs and other damages caused by the addiction crisis. British Columbia filed a proposed class-action lawsuit in 2018, accusing more than 40 opioid makers and distributors of downplaying the harmful effects of painkillers and failing to disclose addiction risks and side-effects. The COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have exacerbated the crisis. Certification hearing for the lawsuit is expected in late November.

Dan Williams, the minister of mental health and addiction, said the proposed changes aim to strengthen the province's position in current class actions to recover opioid-related health-care costs and other damages.

"I am determined to get every single red cent I can from those who are responsible for causing this crisis." Across Canada, there were more than 38,000 suspected opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and March 2023. Some experts have argued the COVID-19 pandemic likely worsened the crisis. The Alberta government announced in October 2019 that it would participate in the class action and passed its initial legislation that December.

British Columbia Opioid Lawsuit Health-Care Costs Addiction Crisis Class-Action Opioid Manufacturers Opioid Distributors COVID-19 Pandemic

 

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