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RESOLUTIONNO.

297

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY


ATTORNEYTOINDIVIDUALLYFILEONBEHALFOFTHECOUNTYOR
JOIN A MULTIPLAINTIFF LAWSUIT AGAINST MAJOR DRUG
MANUFACTURERS TO RECOVER CURRENT AND FUTURE DAMAGES
TO THE COUNTY TAXPAYERS FROM ABUSE OF OPIOID
PHARMACEUTICALS

Introduced:7/10/17
By Messrs. By Messrs. Ward, Commisso, Ms. McKnight, Messrs. Ethier,
Beston,Bullock,Ms.Chapman,Messrs.Clay,Clenahan,Ms.Cunningham,Messrs.
Duncan,Feeney,Fein,Ms.Lekakis,Mr.Mayo,Ms.McLeanLane,Messrs.Miller,
OBrien,Reinhardt,Signoracci,Simpson,Smith,Touchette,andMs.Willingham:

WHEREAS, According to the Center for Disease Control, since 1999, the
numberofoverdosedeathsinvolvingopioidshasquadrupled.From2000to2015
morethanhalfamillionpeoplediedfromdrugoverdoses.NinetyoneAmericansdie
every day from an opioid overdose. Overdoses from prescription opioids are a
drivingfactorinthe15yearincreaseinopioidoverdosedeaths.Since1999,the
amountofprescriptionopioidssoldintheU.S.nearlyquadrupled,yettherehasnot
beenanoverallchangeintheamountofpainthatAmericansreport,and

WHEREAS,InNewYorkState, 2,175drugrelateddeathswerereportedin
2013,40percentmorethanin2009.Opioidanalgesicrelateddeathsincreased30
percentfrom2009to2013.Naloxonewasadministeredduring11,992emergency
medicalservices(EMS)callsin2014,a57percentincreasefromthepreviousyear.
Opioidrelated emergency department visits increased 73 percent from 2010 to
2014,and

WHEREAS,InAlbanyCounty,asreportedfromJuly2015September2016,
therehavebeen 40opioidoverdosedeaths,150emergencydepartmentvisits,and
45hospitalizations.Thesenumbershaveincreasedfrom2009anditisanticipated
thatthesenumberswillincreasemovingforward.Theabuseofbothrecreational
andprescriptiondrugshasledtoadeclineinqualityoflifeandpublicsafetyinthe
CountyofAlbany,and

WHEREAS,AlbanyCountyspendsmillionsofdollarseachyeartoprovideor
payforhealthcare,pharmaceuticals,andotherprogramsonbehalfofemployees,
indigents,incarceratedindividuals,andnursinghomeresidents.Itprovidesawide
rangeofservicesonbehalfofresidentsincludingservicesforfamiliesandchildren,
servicesforthementallyillandhomeless,publicassistance,lawenforcementand
EMSservices.Alloftheseservicesareaffectedbytheincreaseinopioiduse,abuse
andaddiction,and

WHEREAS,BroomeCounty,DutchessCounty,ErieCounty,NassauCounty,
Niagara County, Orange County, and Suffolk County have pursued lawsuits
against the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals containing opioids, alleging that
pharmaceutical manufacturers misled doctors that opioid painkillers were not
addictiveandthedrugmanufacturersaggressivelymarketedopioidpainrelievers
despiteevidencethatincreaseduseofopioidswasresultinginincreasedaddiction,
deaths, and hospital admissions. The increased use of opioids has provided $8
billiondollarsinrevenuefordrugcompanies,and

WHEREAS,TheAlbanyCountyLegislaturebelievesthatcountygovernment
shouldrecoverdamagesfromthosepartiesdirectlycontributingtohighcoststothe
taxpayerintheformofincreasedsocialservices,Medicaidcosts,lawenforcement
andEMScosts,training,andotherexpendituresthroughacourseofconductmeant
to mislead doctors, patients, and the medical community resulting in over
prescribedopioidmedicationsnow,therefore,beit

RESOLVED,ThatthisHonorableBodysupportstheeffortsoftheCounty
Attorney to determine which pharmaceutical manufacturers have demonstrated
culpabilityinmanufacturingandpromotingproductsthatwerenotsafeandtofile
suitonbehalfoftheCountyofAlbanytaxpayersforexpendituresrelatedtooveruse
and abuse of opioids as a result, among other reasons, of pharmaceutical
manufacturersmisleadingdoctors,otherhealthcareprofessionals,andthegeneral
publicastotheaddictivenessofopiods.

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