Editorial: War on opioid addiction

The state has multiple tracks for its fight against opioid addiction, and one is running through the courts. Hawaii has joined most of the other states in taking legal action against pharmaceutical companies seen as the primary agents in fueling addiction to opioids.

State Attorney General Clare Connors announced the suits against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the opioid drug OxyContin, and related entities and key executives; there are also complaints filed naming other opioid manufacturers and distributors.

This state has been seen as among those with a less severe impact from the public health crisis that has grown to national proportions. However, Connors said, the islands have not been spared, citing rising death counts, hospitalizations and treatments in recent years.

That’s why the suits were filed to seek damages and penalties, alleging violations of state trade practices law by deceptively marketing the opioids and distributing excessive amounts.

But the other track the state must take is corrective and preventive, through its Hawaii Opioid Initiative, a collaborative effort of the AG’s office as well as the Health, Human Services and Public Safety departments. Launched almost two years ago, the initiative goals include training and education as well as assuring access to a drug called Naloxone as key to reducing opioid overdose deaths.

That, and ongoing vigilance against predatory drug marketing, must remain the focus.