New Milford has joined the Statewide Opioid Litigation.  The Town Council authorized the move at their meeting Monday night.

The litigation is being spearheaded in Connecticut by Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary.  New Milford Mayor David Gronbach says the town needs resources to address the opioid problem, and rather than wait for them to filter down from Washington and Hartford, he wanted to make a proactive move. 

The complaint was filed by Suffolk County, New York against four major opioid manufacturers and four physicians.  They allege misrepresentations, false advertising and nuisance under New York law about the addictive nature of opioids.  The complaint says the advertising was disguised as literature and testimonials about opioids being a viable option for treatment of chronic plain, and not addictive. 

It further alleges that the doctors and their front groups received vast sums of money from the opioid manufacturers.