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Cover Story: United We Stand
United We Stand
cities, counties, state seek opioid justice for a united arkansas
County, city and state government leaders gathered on the state Capitol steps March 21 to announce they had filed a unique and unprecedented lawsuit against opioid manufacturers, 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.
“Though other lawsuits have been filed in federal courts across the country, Arkansas is the only state that has united in this fashion,” 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.” >>>
Among those speaking at the news conference were State Drug Director Kirk Lane, who shared alarming statistics about opioids in Arkansas. Lane said between 2013 and 2016, more than 1,000 Arkansans had died due to overdose.
“In 2016 alone, a minimum of 401 lives were lost attributed to drug overdose — 355 of those to opioids,” he said, noting that the numbers will only climb.
“In 2017, the death toll in Arkansas — overdose deaths — will exceed 401 as preliminary overdose rates are showing to be 30 percent higher than those in 2016,” Lane said. “I applaud these city and county and state leaders that are represented here today for being able to recognize this important issue and having the tenacity to do something about it.”
Other speakers included Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, the 2018 president of the National League of Cities who discussed the research of the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic; Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, who said he has seen an increase in property crimes and heroin use in the last two years; and Trumann Police Chief Chad Henson, who discussed how opioids have changed the role of law enforcement officers.
Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Don Zimmerman spoke about the process by which cities, counties and the state came together in this effort starting last fall when the first County Opioid Task Force meeting was held. Zimmerman, who was a guest at the meeting, said he left convinced that county, city, and state officials must work together to achieve the best resolution to the state’s opioid problem.
“Arkansas’ one-voice approach to this lawsuit is one that gives us a seat at the table,” Zimmerman said. “Neither the state or any county or city is big enough alone; this litigation approach ensures that recovered damages remain in Arkansas.”
Top: Arkansas Municipal League Executive Director Don Zimmerman (left) shakes hands with AAC Executive Director Chris Villines during a news conference announcing that cities, counties and the state had filed suit against the opioid industry. Middle: City, county and state officials, as well as members of the public, attended the news conference. After final remarks, the speakers entertained questions from the media and the audience. Right: Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery (left) and Jerome Tapley, an attorney representing the cities and counties in their litigation, listen to the speakers.
State Drug Director Kirk Lane If we fail, we will be the first generation that has not left a better place for the next generation. It is so urgent that we stop the carnage — and together we can do just that.
AAC Executive Director Chris Villines Arkansas is taking the
brunt of this problem hard. Each year we lose over 400 people in our state to fatal overdoses. This number has increased nearly 300 percent since 2000 and coincides with opioid sales quadrupling in Arkansas over the same period.
tistic that struck me the other day was given at the National League of Cities meeting. They said that 84 percent of the world’s opioid usage is in the United States, and we have only 3 percent of the world’s population.
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola There’s been a lot of statistics that have been passed around. The most important statistic has to do with our children. ... Arkansas ranks first in the nation for ages 12 through 17 in the misuse of painkillers.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery Every one of my colleagues
across this great state is having to deal with this crisis every single day. Our prisons and our jails are full. Good people are getting caught up in criminal activity after becoming addicted.
Trumann Police Chief Chad Henson In the past, we law enforcement
have been the ones to go out and fight crime and put people in jail. Today, the men and women behind me are having to divert their time and money to combat the consequences that accompany addiction, including violence, petty crimes and child neglect.
