Burke County joins nationwide fight against opioid industry

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Burke County leaders have filed a federal lawsuit against manufacturers and distributors of opioids.

They announced the lawsuit during a news conference Thursday.

[READ: Burke County Opioid Lawsuit]

Leaders said nearly 20 people die from overdoses of pain pills each year in Burke County and prescriptions for opioids in the county are nearly double the national rate.

Department of Social Services officials said the number of children in foster care has steadily risen over the past three years because of the opioid epidemic.

Mecklenburg County leaders are working with attorneys to help build a case against drug companies, which are blamed for the opioid crisis in the country. The lawsuit hasn’t been filed yet.

[Mecklenburg Co. leaders take major step to fight opioid epidemic]

[Opioid crisis that has gone rampant in Gaston County, officials say]

Gaston County commissioners are also considering filing a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

There are 300 lawsuits nationwide filed against the opioid industry.

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