Remember those lawsuits filed by the states against Big Tobacco back in the ’90s? Well, state and local governments have trained their sights – and their lawyers – on a new, common scourge: opioid abuse. And as with the tobacco industry, there once again are some deep pockets to go after – the pharmaceutical industry that manufacturers the opium derivatives in question.

So, places that have been hit hard by opioid abuse are signing onto litigation, and Pueblo County – arguably, ground zero in Colorado’s epidemic – might get on board.  Reports the Pueblo Chieftain’s Peter Roper:

Pueblo County is likely to join Huerfano County and others nationally that are suing the major pharmaceutical companies for damages, arguing the over-prescribing of opioid prescription drugs contributed to the thousands of heroin overdose deaths and other damages from that drug.

“Unless someone can show us strong reasons not to participate, I think we probably will take action and file suit,” Commissioner Terry Hart said … “We have ample evidence in our county of the damage and harm that’s come from overdose deaths and other costs caused by the use of heroin and fentanyl.”

Roper notes:

Huerfano County announced its decision to sue last week and filed a lawsuit in Denver district court that is part of a larger “multi-district” action being handled by Stephen Ochs, a Denver doctor and lawyer who now specializes in suing medical companies.

If the movement gels and gains momentum, look for massive settlements – someday, perhaps – on the scale of the anti-tobacco lawsuits that eventually showered money on the states.