SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Law and Justice Committee voted unanimously Monday in favor of a resolution that could result in the county suing prescription manufacturers for worsening the opioid epidemic across Illinois.
DeKalb County State's Attorney Rick Amato said that the resolution is the County Board's response in standing against opioid abuse. He said the possible lawsuit is directed at prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors because they failed to safeguard against addiction hazards, since a lot of people who become addicted to heroin start with prescription drugs.
Amato said the resolution that he presented to the committee is different from the DeKalb Police Department's Heroin Outreach, Prevention and Education program. But, he said, it's meant to act as an addition to the proposed city program that is meant to help people with an opioid addiction to find resources through the city police.
County Coroner Dennis Miller said 19 people died of drug overdoses last year. He said that's fewer than the 25 that died of overdoses in 2016 – which, he said, is most likely because of law enforcement being able to administer the life-saving drug naxolone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, to people who are overdosing.
Miller said the overdoses made up for more than half of accidental deaths in the county last year.
"When people say it's a crisis, it's indeed a crisis," Miller said.
The resolution now goes to the County Board after it passed during the committee meeting at the DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 E. Sycamore St., Amato said, if it passes the County Board, the county will be able to pursue the lawsuit with prosecuting law firm Meyers & Flowers, LLC from Chicago.
Amato said DuPage, Kane, Will, Cook, McHenry, Rock Island, Champaign, Bureau, Kankakee and Macon counties have pursued similar lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors with the law firm. Amato said some of those counties went through their state's attorney to sue prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors instead of involving their County Board, but he said he didn't want to make the effort about his office.
"It's about our entire community," Amato said.
Amato said if the county wins the potential lawsuit, the county would have to give back 25 percent of what they collected and pay attorney's fees to the Chicago law firm. He said the county wouldn't owe anything if they lose the suit, meaning it wouldn't cost taxpayers anything regardless.
Committee Chairwoman Dianne Leifheit said the county is not looking to make a fortune on the possible lawsuit regardless.
"If nothing else, we're making a statement that we want this watched and looked at," Leifheit said.