The Chickasaw and Choctaw nations are suing the nation’s leading manufacturers of opioid painkillers.
Choctaw Chief Gary Batton said their lawsuits closely follows the state of Oklahoma’s, which allege drug makers marketed drugs like oxycodone and hydrocodone as safe while knowing they weren’t.
"We do believe that these companies have definitely lied. They have betrayed our trust. They have not told the truth in regards to how these have been addictive and how they affect our people, our families. And we do believe it’s unjust," Batton said.
Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby said the 19 defendants are complicit in opioid addiction epidemics the tribes are dealing with.
"It’s been less than a month that I went to a funeral of a young man in his 20s who overdosed on opioids. And we continue to hear stories from our families in the community that indicate that they need help because they can’t shake this addiction," Anoatubby said.
Anoatubby said as a result of the addiction epidemic, the Chickasaw Nation needs not only more treatment programs, but also more things like family services to deal with the social consequences of addiction.
"And, of course, you know, we could fund these things, right? OK? But don’t you think that the people who are responsible for it ought to fund it?" Anoatubby said.
The tribe’s lawsuits are filed in state court and seek unspecified damages.
The Cherokee Nation’s lawsuit against drug makers was moved from tribal to state court.
