Opioid trial finds Teva Pharmaceuticals liable

Teva Pharmaceuticals and its affiliates have been found to be liable for accelerating the opioid epidemic, according to a New York jury.

The state's attorney general Laetitia James filed a lawsuit in 2019, accusing Teva - and other firms - of intensely marketing painkillers and ignoring the implications of addiction for consumers.

The underplayed the true dangers of opioids

New York State Attorney General Laetitia James said that Teva Pharmaceuticals - and its affiliates - had been found liable for "death and destruction" across the USA, by a jury. 

"Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and others misled the American people about the true dangers of opioids", stated James. 

However, Teva Pharmaceuticals has not accepted this and claims:

• That it complied with all regulations (federal and state)
• Teva Pharmaceuticals rejects that it used deceptive marketing to attract customers

In a statement, Teva Pharmaceuticals said "[We] strongly disagree with today's outcome and will prepare for a swift appeal as well as continue to pursue a mistrial".

The devastation of opioid addiction 

The exact damages Teva Pharmaceuticals will be forced to pay has yet to be decided.

Across the USA, over 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against various opioid producers, which claim that the public were misled by them, regarding the potential of drug addiction and abuse.

It is estimated that close to half a million people in the US have died from opioid overdoses over the past 20 years.