According to the Attorney General of BC, this Stephen Colbert video explains why the province is suing opioid companies

According to the Attorney General of British Columbia, a new video from Stephen Colbert, host of a talk show, explains why The government is pursuing 40 companies involved in opioid production. David Eby explains that Colbert's recent quote about Purdue Pharma raises important questions about the company's claims.

"The video will help people understand why the BC government is going through this step," said David Eby.

"These are actually allegations against not only this particular pharmaceutical company in the video, but the allegations also relate to the conduct of other companies. Allegations that they were not keeping track of their drugs and that they should have known that the complete medicines were being diverted to illegal markets. "

"It's helpful if the allegations are really distilled so that people can understand why we're doing it."

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The video is focused on Purdue Pharma, the company that produces OxyContin and has been named to the BC government class action lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the first of its kind in Canada, with a government taking direct legal action against drug companies with respect to opioid addiction and overdose deaths.

The victims tried to recover damages by filing a class action against Purdue Pharma. This resulted in a proposed settlement of $ 20 million, of which $ 2 million went to the provinces and territories and no admission of guilt. The colony stalled.

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Purdue Pharma has lost several lawsuits in the United States. The company promoted OxyContin, a safer and less addictive analgesic than other opioids. The company acknowledged in the United States that its marketing of OxyContin was misleading and paid $ 634.5 million in 2007 to settle criminal and civil charges.

Colbert's video focuses on the lawsuits that Purdue Pharma lost in the United States as part of the ongoing drug epidemic. The late-night comedian points out that four in five US heroin users began using prescription pain medications and that the company is currently expanding internationally to market highly addictive drugs worldwide in Latin America . Asia, Middle East and Africa.

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But then the host Last show He had the biggest breath of the crowd when he explained the emergence of Rhodes Pharma, a new company belonging to the Sackler family. The Sacklers, who also own Purdue Pharma, are creating a new product to relieve people of addictive opioids.

"If the Sacklers did not do enough damage, this week they revealed they had another second secret company, Rhodes Pharma," said Colbert.

"The Sacklers are hitting the country with opioids and will now enjoy the cure. It takes a pair of swinging Sacklers. "

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Eby says the BC The government is working with other provinces to join the legal case. He said it would be crazy to see a tobacco company produce a product to try to reduce nicotine addiction.

"I'm not aware of a situation where a tobacco company invested money in a company that was producing nicotine withdrawal treatment," said Eby.

"And it would be shocking to hear about it, just as it was shocking to hear about companies that took advantage of what we claim to be illegal activities and to market these drugs to doctors and then take additional steps to try to take advantage of those trying to recover from opioid addiction. "