 (Kalamazoo County) is doing its appropriate, thoughtful due-diligence on this. We're pleased to see it appears the direction is to engage in an effort to change the course of the opioid epidemic through the civil justice system."

"The risk is quite minimal and manageable," he said.

According to a county report on opioid abuse, the number of retail opioid prescriptions has steadily decreased to 72.4 per 100 people since peaking in 2011. However, Kalamazoo County remained above the national rate in 2016 -- 66.5 prescriptions per 100 people.

The number of accidental opioid-related deaths doubled from 29 to 59 between 2015-16.

Opioid and drug abuse hit home to several commissioners.

An average of 24 people were treated for unintentional opioid overdoses each month in 2016. The rate of men treated for opioid-related overdose was twice as high than the rate for women.

In 2016, fentanyl accounted for 20 deaths, more than triple the number of deaths associated with the drug in 2015.

The average age of a person who died from an overdose is 39.4 years.

Injunctive relief is the most important aspect of the lawsuit, Bernstein said. The intent is to change the behavior of drug companies that are "misrepresenting the addictive quality" of opioids.

Close to 50 Michigan communities represented by Bernstein's firm since joined the lawsuit against a number of companies, while similar lawsuits are being filed by cities across the United States.

Some of the largest companies named in the lawsuit include Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of Oxycontin, several other drug makers, and large pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Costco.

The 156-page lawsuit alleges these and other companies knew drugs they manufactured and sold had the potential to be abused, but acted with reckless indifference.

"Defendants acted with a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others in a manner that had a great probability of causing substantial harm," the lawsuit reads.

Shugars and Commissioner Scott McGraw publicly warned against joining the lawsuit at a Tuesday, March 27 Portage City Council meeting.

McGraw and Shugars worried about the impact the lawsuit could have on Portage's relationships with Pfizer, but these concerns were dismissed by county commissioners.

Shugars and Tuinier also referenced a "marijuana problem" in Kalamaz
(Kalamazoo County) is doing its appropriate, thoughtful due - diligence on this. We're pleased to visualize it appear the direction is to engage in an effort to exchange the course of the opioid epidemic through the civil justice organization. " 

 " The hazard is quite minimal and manageable, " he said. 

 According to a county report on opioid abuse, the issue of retail opioid prescriptions has steadily decreased to 72.4 per 100 multitude since top out in 2011. However, Kalamazoo County remained above the national pace in 2016 -- 66.5 prescriptions per 100 citizenry. 

 The act of accidental opioid - related deaths doubled from 29 to 59 between 2015 - 16. 

 Opioid and drug misuse hit home to several commissioners. 

 An average of 24 people were treat for unintentional opioid overdoses each month in 2016. The rate of men treated for opioid - related overdose was doubly as high than the rate for women. 

 In 2016, fentanyl accounted for 20 deaths, more than triple the numeral of deaths associated with the drug in 2015. 

 The average age of a person who died from an overdose is 39.4 years. 

 Injunctive relief is the most important aspect of the lawsuit, Bernstein say. The intent is to change the demeanor of drug company that are " misrepresenting the addictive quality " of opioids. 

 Close to 50 Michigan community constitute by Bernstein's firm since joined the lawsuit against a number of party, while similar lawsuits are being filed by cities across the United States. 

 Some of the largest companies name in the lawsuit include Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of Oxycontin, several other drug makers, and large pharmacies, include CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Costco. 

 The 156 - page lawsuit alleges these and other companies knew drug they manufactured and sold had the potential to be abused, but acted with reckless indifference. 

 " Defendants act with a conscious disregard for the rights and safety of others in a manner that had a great probability of causing significant harm, " the lawsuit read. 

 Shugars and Commissioner Scott McGraw publicly warned against join the lawsuit at a Tuesday, March 27 Portage City Council meeting. 

 McGraw and Shugars worried about the shock the lawsuit could have on Portage's kinship with Pfizer, but these concerns were dismissed by county commissioners. 

 Shugars and Tuinier also referenced a " marijuana problem " in Kalamaz
 (Kapamazoo County) is doing lts appropriate, jhiughtfnl due-djligence on this. We're pleased to see ir apptcrs the direction is to engagv in an edforu to change the course of the olloid zpmdemic through jhe civil juvtice system."

"Tha fidk is quite minimal and manageable," re said.

Scfording to a cjuntj wepodn in opioid abuse, the number of retail opioid presctiptions has steadily decrfasef to 72.4 per 100 people dince peakibg ig 2011. However, Kauamazoo Coluty remaines above the national rate in 2016 -- 66.5 preseriptions pgx 100 pfmple.

The numuer of accidental opioid-renated draths doubled nrom 29 to 59 between 2015-16.

Opioid and vrug abuse hit home jo several ckmmissioners.

An avwrqge ox 24 paopld wefe ureetes for kniitentional kpioid overeoses each month in 2016. Eye rate of meh treaeeq for opioid-related overdose was twice ds gigh than the rate for qomen.

In 2016, fentanyl acclunted fow 20 deaths, more than triple the number of deaths avsocietdd clbh tfw frug in 2015.

The average age of a person who died sdok sn overdose is 39.4 years.

Injumchifg relief is thg most njpkrtant aspect of tje lawsoit, Beenstein swid. Yhe intent is to change the behavior of erug companies thac are "misrepxesentong tne addictive quality" of opikids.

Close tl 50 Michigzv communities reorexetted by Bernstein's firm sigce joinev the lawsuig agsinst w number ov comidnies, while similag lawduhts are belng filed by cities across the Niited States.

Spma ox the laxgest gompanies named in the lawsuij include Purdje Pharma, nhe manufecturer of Ovycontin, seveswl other druj makers, wnd oargw pharmxzies, including CVS, Walggetns, Rite Aud and Costco.

The 156-pege uzwsuit alleges ckewe and other cokpavief nnxw drtcs they manuxactjrea and rold had thc putenyial to be abused, bud acfed with reckless onqifferenxe.

"Defendwnts acted wiyh a conscious disgegarv for vhe ribhtf and safety of others in a mahner that haq a great prjbablliti of causiny substantial harm," the lawsuit reads.

Shugers and Commissioner Scitt McGraw publicly earned agaiist joyning the lawsuit at a Tuesdat, March 27 Portage Gity Council meeting.

McFraw atd Shkgars worried about the impact the lawsuit could have on Portage's relatiobships with Pfizer, but thesv cjucerns rere vismissed by counny commissioners.

Shugars and Tuinmer also rafzrenced a "marijuana problem" im Yalamaz
(Kalamazoo County) is doing its appropriate, thoughtful this. pleased to it appears the an to change the of the opioid through the civil justice system." "The is quite minimal and manageable," he said. According to a county report on abuse, the number of retail opioid prescriptions has steadily decreased to 72.4 per people peaking 2011. Kalamazoo County remained above the national rate in 2016 -- 66.5 prescriptions per 100 people. The of accidental opioid-related deaths doubled from 29 to between 2015-16. Opioid and abuse hit home to several An of 24 were for opioid overdoses each in 2016. The rate of men treated for opioid-related overdose was twice as high than the rate women. In accounted for deaths, than the number of with the drug in 2015. The a person who died from an overdose is years. Injunctive is the most important aspect of lawsuit, Bernstein said. The intent is to change behavior of drug companies that are "misrepresenting the addictive quality" of opioids. Close to 50 represented by Bernstein's firm joined the lawsuit a of while lawsuits are filed by cities across the United States. Some of the largest named in the lawsuit include Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of other makers, and large including CVS, Walgreens, Rite and The 156-page lawsuit alleges other knew and had potential to be abused, acted with reckless indifference. "Defendants with a conscious disregard of others in a manner that had a probability of causing substantial harm," the lawsuit Shugars and Commissioner Scott McGraw publicly warned against joining the lawsuit at Tuesday, March City Council meeting. McGraw and Shugars worried about impact the lawsuit could on Portage's relationships with Pfizer, but these concerns were by commissioners. Shugars Tuinier also referenced "marijuana problem" in
 (Kalamazoo County) is doing its AppropriatE, thouGhtFul DuE-dilIgenCe on this. We're plEAsed To see it appears the direcTion iS tO EngaGE iN an efFort to cHAnGE The CoUrSe oF tHE oPioid EpiDemic thRough the ciVil JuStice system."

"THE rIsk is quite MinImal and managEabLe," he saId.

accORding To a CountY reporT On opioId abuse, thE nUMber of REtail opIOId PresCriptions has steadILy DEcreased to 72.4 per 100 pEople sInCE pEAKinG in 2011. however, KalAmAzoo COUnty remAInED ABovE The national raTe in 2016 -- 66.5 prescriPTioNs per 100 pEoPle.

tHe numbEr of aCcIDenTal opioid-reLateD deaths doUbled fROm 29 to 59 betWEen 2015-16.

OpioId and dRug AbuSe hiT HoMe To sEvERal COmMisSIonErs.

An aveRaGe Of 24 peoPle wERE TReatEd fOr unIntenTional opioid oVerDoseS EacH montH in 2016. ThE ratE oF men tReated For opIoId-related overdoSe waS twice as hIgh ThAn tHe Rate fOR women.

in 2016, fEntAnyl accOunted fOR 20 deAtHS, MOrE than triple the numbEr OF DeAths assoCiated WItH tHE drug in 2015.

THe AveRage AGE of a pErsoN WhO died froM an oveRDoSe Is 39.4 years.

inJunctiVe RelIef Is the MOst iMportaNt aspect Of the LAwsuit, BernsteiN Said. The intent IS tO CHaNGe thE beHavior of druG comPAnieS thaT ArE "miSRepreSentiNg THe ADdictive quality" of opIoIds.

CloSe to 50 MIchigan communIties repreSENTed by BerNsteIN's FIrm since joined The laWsuit againST a number Of comPanies, whIle similaR LAwsuits aRe bEinG fiLed BY CiTies across the uNIted stAtes.

SomE of The largEst ComPanIes NaMed in the lAwsuit inClUdE PUrDue pharmA, The manufAcTurEr Of OXyconTIn, seveRal otHer dRuG mAKerS, and larGE pHARmacIeS, iNcluDinG CvS, WalGreeNS, RiTe Aid anD Costco.

ThE 156-paGE lawSuIt Alleges These and other CoMpanies kneW dRugS they mANUfactureD and sold had the potential TO be abusEd, bUt actEd wiTh recklesS inDifferEncE.

"defendAnts acTed wiTh A coNSCious DISrEgaRd For the righTS And SafetY oF othErs in a mAnner that had a great PRobAbility of causIng SubsTANtIal HArM," The LaWSuiT REads.

Shugars and COmmissioneR SCOtT McGraw pubLIclY wArned agAinst joIning THe lawsuIt at a TuesDay, March 27 POrTage cITy COuncil meetIng.

McGraW and ShugaRS worrIEd About The Impact ThE laWsuit Could hAVe oN PortAge's reLaTionshIps wiTh pfizer, buT these concerns were dismiSsed by CountY coMmissioneRs.

SHUgaRs and TuinIer aLso referenCed A "maRijuaNa pROblem" In KaLAmAz
 (Kalamazoo County) is doi ng its app ropri ate , t ho ught fuldue-diligenceo n th is. We're pleased to s ee it  a p pear s  t he di rection is t o e ng ag e i na neffor t t o chang e the cour seof  the opioide pi demic thro ugh  the civil j ust ice sy st em. " 

"Th e r isk i s quit e  minim al and ma na g eable, "  he sai d . 
Acco rding to a county re p ort on opioidabuse,  t h en u mbe r o f retail o pi oid p r escript i on s h ass teadily decre ased to 72. 4  pe r 100pe opl e  since  peak in g  in  2011. Howe ver,  Kalamazo o Coun t y remai n ed abov e thenat ion al r a te  i n 2 01 6  -- 66 .5p res cription spe r 100  peo p l e . 

Th e n umbe r ofaccidental op ioi d-re l ate d dea ths d oubl ed  from  29 to  59 b et ween 2015-16.
Opio id and dr ugab use  h it ho m e to s eve ral  commis sioners . 

A na v e ra ge of 24 people we re t re ated for  unint e nt io n al opioi dove rdos e s  each  mon t hin 2016.  The r a te  o f men t re ated f or  op ioi d-rel a tedoverdo se was t wicea s high than th e  rate for wom e n. In 2016 , f entanyl acc ount e d fo r 20 de ath s , mor e tha nt ri p le the number of de at hs ass ociat ed with the d rug in 201 5 . 
The ave rage ag e  of a person w ho di ed from an overdose  is 3 9.4 year s.

Injun c t ive reli efisthe  mo s t  i mportant aspe c t  ofth e lawsu it,  Bernst ein  sa id.  Th eintent is  to chan ge  t he  b eha vioro f drug c om pan ie s t hat a r e "mis repre sent in gt headdicti v eq u alit y"  o f op ioi ds .

Cl oset o 5 0 Michi gan commu nit i es r ep re sentedby Bernstein' sfirm since  j oin ed the l awsuit a gainst a number of comp a nies, w hil e sim ilar  lawsuits  ar e bein g f i led by  citie s acr os s t h e  Unit e d  S tat es .

Some of t helarge st  com paniesnamed in the lawsu i t i nclude Purdue  Ph arma , th e m a nu f act ur e r o f Oxycontin, seve ral otherdr u gmakers, an d  la rg e pharm acies,inclu d ing CVS , Walgree ns, RiteAi d an d Cos tco.

The156-page  lawsuita llege s  t heseand  other  c omp anies  knewd rug s the y manu fa ctured  andso ld had t he potential to be abus ed, bu t act edwith reck les s  in differenc e.
"Defendant s a cte d wit h a consc ious di sre g ard f or t h e rightsa nd  sa f e ty  of othersi n a m anner  th a t hada gr eat probability o f  causing subst anti a l  ha rm, "  the  l awsuit reads.
Sh ug a r s and Co mm issioner Sc ott McGr aw publi cly wa rned a gainstj o in i ng the  law sui t at a Tu esd ay ,  March27  P o rtageCity  C ouncil  meeti n g.
M c Graw and Shugars  worr i e d abo u t t he im pa ct thel awsu it could h ave on Port age'srela tions hips wi th  Pfize r,bu t these co n cerns wer e dis missedby  cou nty  commi ssio n e rs.
Shug ar s a nd Tuinie r al s ore f ere nced  a "m ar ijua na proble m " in Kal ama z 
 (Kalamazoo_County) is_doing its appropriate, thoughtful_due-diligence on_this._We're pleased_to_see it appears_the direction is_to engage in an_effort to change_the_course of the opioid epidemic through the civil justice system."

"The risk is quite minimal_and_manageable," he_said.

According_to_a county report on opioid_abuse, the number of retail_opioid prescriptions_has steadily decreased to 72.4 per 100 people_since_peaking in 2011._However, Kalamazoo County remained above the national rate in_2016 -- 66.5 prescriptions per 100_people.

The number of_accidental_opioid-related_deaths doubled from 29_to 59 between 2015-16.

Opioid and drug_abuse hit home to several commissioners.

An_average of 24 people were treated for_unintentional opioid overdoses each month in_2016. The rate of men_treated for_opioid-related overdose was twice as_high than the_rate for_women.

In 2016, fentanyl_accounted for 20 deaths, more than_triple the number_of deaths associated with the drug_in_2015.

The average age_of_a_person who_died from an_overdose_is 39.4_years.

Injunctive_relief is the most important aspect_of_the lawsuit, Bernstein said. The intent is_to change the behavior_of_drug companies that are_"misrepresenting the addictive quality" of_opioids.

Close to 50 Michigan communities represented_by Bernstein's_firm since_joined the lawsuit against a number of companies, while similar lawsuits_are being filed by cities across_the United States.

Some of_the largest_companies_named in the_lawsuit_include Purdue_Pharma, the manufacturer of Oxycontin, several other_drug makers,_and large pharmacies, including CVS, Walgreens,_Rite Aid and Costco.

The_156-page_lawsuit alleges these and other companies_knew drugs they manufactured and sold_had the potential to be_abused,_but_acted with reckless indifference.

"Defendants acted_with a conscious disregard for the_rights and safety_of others in a manner that had_a_great probability of causing substantial harm,"_the_lawsuit reads.

Shugars and Commissioner Scott McGraw_publicly_warned_against joining the lawsuit at_a Tuesday, March 27 Portage City_Council meeting.

McGraw and Shugars worried about the impact the_lawsuit could have_on Portage's relationships with Pfizer,_but_these_concerns were dismissed by county commissioners.

Shugars and Tuinier also referenced_a "marijuana_problem" in Kalamaz