AAC


COVER STORY United We Stand


cities, counties, state seek opioid justice for a united arkansas


ounty, city and state government leaders gathered on the state Cap- itol steps March 21 to announce they had filed a unique and un- precedented lawsuit against opioid manufac- turers, distributors, and retailers for allegedly contributing to the state’s opioid crisis. Their litigation approach is unlike any others in the country and will represent 90 percent of Arkansas’ population. At press time, all 75 Arkansas counties and more than 250 cities are participating. It is believed that it will cost billions to stop the Arkansas opioid epidemic and that this money should come from the companies that allegedly caused the problem — not from taxpayers.


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“Though other lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the country, Arkansas is the only state that has united in this fash- ion,” said Chris Villines, executive director of the Association of Arkansas Counties. “Instead of fighting and competing with each other on critically needed settlement dollars for our cities and counties, all of the cities and counties are working together to do what’s best for Arkansas.”


>>> Photo courtesy of Stone Ward


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