MIDDLEBURY — The Counseling Service of Addison County and two other Vermont community mental health agencies announced on Wednesday that they are joining forces in a lawsuit against the opioid drug industry.
Joining CSAC as state-designated nonprofit agencies in the suit are Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) in southeastern Vermont and Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) in northeastern Vermont.
According to a joint press release from the three agencies all three of community mental health agencies have incurred significant losses due to the impact of the opioid crisis. Not only have these agencies seen an increase in unreimbursed addiction costs, but they have also experienced increased pressures from providing these critical services.
“Like all counties in Vermont, Addison County is struggling under the weight of the opioid epidemic,” said Rachel Lee Cummings, executive director of CSAC.
“Our county is overwhelmed with opioids, and we have seen an increase in people who need treatment. As a result, we are challenged to support clients and families because of the large financial losses in our substance use and other programs. We believe it is time to hold manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who contributed to this epidemic accountable for the cost of treatment and services.”
HCRS CEO George Karabakakis sounded a similar theme.
“The opioid crisis has devastated our communities. In over 50 years of providing services, we have not seen the likes of this crisis before, which is impacting not only the individuals who become addicted to these powerful drugs, but entire families,” he said. “The manufacturers and distributors of opioids have misled health care professionals and the public regarding the addictive nature of these drugs. We feel it’s time for these companies to be held accountable.”
NKHS CEO Tomasz Jankowski said it was time for the legal action.
“NKHS is recognizing the opioid epidemic that has surrounded us for a long, long time,” he said. “This epidemic is not subsiding. We want to ensure that we hold the manufacturers and the distributors accountable for the decisions that they have made that have led to the outburst of this epidemic.”