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Amid Opioid Crisis, Phoenix Votes to Take Rx Drugmakers to Court

Phoenix will join several other cities, such as Chicago and Indianapolis, in taking massive drug companies to court over the national opioid-addiction crisis.

Phoenix will join several other cities, such as Chicago and Indianapolis, in taking massive drug companies to court over the national opioid-addiction crisis.

The City Council voted 8-0 Wednesday to take legal action against drug manufacturers and distributors to recoup some of the money the city has spent fighting the opioid epidemic.

Mayor Greg Stanton said the decision was one of the most important the council will make.

"Let's face it: The opioid epidemic is a crisis, and it's affecting all of us," he said.

Stanton and Councilwomen Thelda Williams and Debra Stark sent a letter to City Manager Ed Zuercher last week detailing how the opioid crisis has "created an incredible strain" on the city's public-safety personnel.

Stanton, Williams and Stark blame the rapid increase in opioid-related deaths across the country on pharmaceutical manufactures and distributors that launched a "fraudulent marketing campaign that minimized the risks of opioids."

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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