© 2024 WUGA | University of Georgia
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Athens Law Firm Representing Increasing Number of Counties/Cities in Opioid Battle

An Athens law firm is taking the lead in opioid litigation in the state. Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley is representing 28 Georgia counties, cities, and hospital authorities in their battle to recover costs associated with the opioid epidemic. Drew Hill is an attorney with the firm. He says the list of expenses incurred is extensive.

“The damages being sought are the costs that the counties have incurred: increased costs in law enforcement, increased costs in drug treatment, counseling, foster care, county funding-some counties fund their local hospitals, increased EMS/EMT services," according to Hill.  "The Narcan drug you have to purchase to save lives for folks who overdose on opioids is very expensive, increased jail costs, drug court costs.”

Hill says the epidemic is contributing to devastating consequences, both in Georgia and the rest of the nation.

“Probably one of the most startling statistics is the average life expectancy in the United States, over the last two years,  has decreased for the first time since the great flu epidemic in the early 1900's. From what we’re hearing, a lot of that has to do with the opioid epidemic and the number of drug overdose deaths.”

Credit FDA.gov

Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Madison, and Oglethorpe are among the counties the firm is representing in their efforts recover losses.

Related Content