Thursday, November 2, 2023
MERIDIAN SOURCE
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Recovering opioid-related health care costs MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Alberta’s government is introducing amending legislation that would help ensure all those who contributed to the creation of the opioid addiction crisis are held responsible.
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Today’s addiction crisis stems from the actions of opioid manufacturers, distributors and their consultants who sought to sell as much of these dangerous drugs as possible for their own profit.
If passed, Bill 3, the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Amendment Act, 2023, will further strengthen Alberta’s position in current class actions to recover opioid-related health care costs and
other damages. Alberta’s government will invest any future damages awarded back to the province into support for those suffering from mental health challenges or the deadly disease of addiction in their pursuit of recovery. “Today’s addiction crisis stems from the actions of opioid manufacturers, distributors and their consultants who sought to sell as much of these dangerous drugs as possible for their own profit,” said Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams. “Their actions have resulted in billions of dollars of costs to Albertans, not to mention the devastating pain it has caused families and individuals suffering and dying from the deadly disease of addiction. “We are committed to holding those responsible for starting this crisis accountable and believe it should
File Photo be done with full support from the legislative assembly.” During the fall 2019 legislative session, members of Alberta’s legislative assembly unanimously passed the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, 2019. The passing of this legislation supported Alberta’s participa-
tion in a national classaction lawsuit against manufacturers and distributors who contributed to the onset of the opioid addiction crisis. Amendments within the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Amendment Act, 2023 include: - Adding “consultant” to the act to provide a case against those who
provided advisory services to opioid manufacturers and wholesalers/distributors. - Including “active ingredient” in the definition of “opioid product” provides more clarity that an active ingredient, itself, is an opioid product. - Amending the market share formula to distinguish between
the market share of manufacturers and the market share of wholesalers and distributors to calculate damages more accurately, if awarded. The proposed amendments align with the original act passed in 2019 and provide updates to best position Alberta in any legal proceedings.
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