Kentucky sues Express Scripts over opioid crisis involvement

Kentucky's attorney general, Russell Coleman, has initiated a lawsuit against Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit manager, alleging its involvement in the opioid crisis that has severely impacted the state. The lawsuit claims that Express Scripts collaborated with opioid manufacturers in misleading marketing practices to boost sales of addictive medications. This legal action is part of a broader trend where government entities are holding pharmacy benefit managers accountable for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Kentucky has experienced some of the highest overdose death rates in the nation, exacerbated by the prevalence of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The lawsuit also highlights the company's alleged failure to implement effective controls in dispensing opioids through mail-order pharmacies, violating both state and federal laws. As Kentucky continues to grapple with the consequences of the addiction crisis, the state has seen a slight decline in drug overdose deaths, yet officials emphasize that the battle against substance abuse is ongoing. Previous settlements with opioid manufacturers have provided significant funds to combat addiction, but the state remains vigilant in pursuing accountability from all parties involved in the crisis.