Everett’s lawsuit against drug-maker is ludicrous

Published 1:30 am Sunday, January 22, 2017

The decision to attempt to hold responsible the makers of OxyContin or any other prescription only drug by the city of Everett is ludicrous. (Jan. 19 article, “Everett files suit against drug company over opioid epidemic.”) The illicit use of any drug is illegal. Even to possess OxyContin without a prescription is unlawful. You cannot prove that the makers of OxyContin knew or should have known that the abuse of their product would cause robbery, murder, homelessness, home invasions, burglary, etc., any more than GM can be held responsible for drunk-driving deaths, speeding, auto theft and a plethora of other already illegal acts.

This suit is arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory and unreasonable. The first judge to see this suit should recommend that the group proffering this cause be held to answer for petitioning a whimsical fishing expedition to bail out the city of Everett’s financial woes. And establishing safe injection sites for narcotics use only causes more use of these drugs and does nothing to remedy the problem of overdoses and infections. It’s all about money!

David B. Silliman

Camano Island