South Carolina AG sues Purdue Pharma over opioid marketing

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma that alleges that Stamford-based company “unfairly and deceptively marketed opioids, which helped create and fuel South Carolina”™s opioid epidemic.”

The lawsuit claims Purdue “significantly downplayed” the addictive nature of its opioids while exaggerating their benefits in comparison to other pain management solutions. Wilson said the company violated South Carolina”™s Unfair Trade Practices Act, failed to comply with the terms of a 2007 consent judgment with the state for similar conduct and created a public nuisance.

“South Carolina is not immune to the headlines we see daily about the toll of opioids on individual patients, families, and communities,” said Wilson, noting that his state ranks ninth in the nation for opioid prescription rates. “It has created a public health epidemic and imposed a significant burden on law enforcement and social services in our state.”