BATON ROUGE, LA - The latest step
in Louisiana's ongoing effort to end the opioid epidemic involves a trip to the
Midwest.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Bill Stiles this week
attended court proceedings in the Federal Multi-District Litigation in
Cleveland, Ohio.
"While Louisiana is not a party to this litigation,
Attorney General Offices from across the country were asked to attend
yesterday's proceedings and discuss issues with the Court," said Stiles.
"I thank Judge Polster for inviting us and for allowing us to participate
in these critical discussions."
"Judge Polster sees this as the national crisis it
is, and he understands that a national settlement cannot happen without buy-in
from the state Attorneys General," continued Stiles. "Yesterday, the
Judge put all the parties in the same room; this effective first step recognizes
the Attorneys General's important roles in this type of litigation."
"Judge Polster's interest in resolving this issue
globally is commendable," continued Stiles. "The opioid epidemic is a
complex issue that Attorney General Jeff Landry has attacked from multiple
fronts and will continue to do so moving forward."
General Landry has taken several steps to fight opioid
abuse, misuse, and addiction - including, but not limited to: investigating
opioid manufacturers and distributors, lobbying Congress for more stringent
oversight of these companies, creating the "End the Epidemic LA"
educational campaign, and making Naloxone available to Louisiana's first
responders at no cost to their agencies.
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