Florida’s opioid litigation aims to hold responsible the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for their role in causing this deadly crisis. This week, the first hearing in our case was held in a Pasco County courtroom. Standing before Judge Declan Mansfield of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, I argued on behalf of the state that we need to go to trial as soon as practicable.

On the campaign trail, I talked about the devastating reality that Florida lost 14 people to opioid overdoses every day. As I traveled the state, I had mothers cry on my shoulder as they told me of losing their child to this epidemic. Now, 17 people a day are dying from opioid abuse in Florida.

This crisis is ravaging our state, and it is not going away on its own. What we seek through our litigation is to make sure this doesn't happen again. We have put the defendants on notice. They must provide the remediation necessary to compensate the state for the harm caused by this devastating crisis as well as to abate its enormous impact both upon our citizens and our institutions going forward.

We will also seek legislation this session to establish a Statewide Task Force on Opioid Drug Abuse to help identify ways to reduce the demand for opioids, decrease the supply, and save lives.

Ending the opioid crisis is a top priority, and as Florida’s Attorney General, I will continue to do everything in my power to combat the substantial harm it is having on Florida families—including staying actively and purposefully engaged in our opioid litigation.