Quebec's Opioid Lawsuit Moves Forward as 1,400 Join Class Action

A class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors has been authorised in Quebec’s Superior Court. The case targets eight companies accused of downplaying the addictive risks of their drugs. Around 1,400 people have already registered as members of the claim. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of those who developed opioid use disorder after being prescribed the drugs. Lead plaintiff Jean-François Bourassa has struggled with addiction for over a decade and now relies on methadone treatment. Another claimant, Caroline Rivest, became dependent on opioids following a prescription for ankle pain and later turned to the black market when her medication ran out.

About 13,000 people in Quebec have received treatment for opioid addiction. To qualify for the lawsuit, individuals must prove they were prescribed opioids and later diagnosed with opioid use disorder. The deadline to join the class action is currently set for July 31, though a six-month extension may be granted.

This Quebec case is separate from the broader Canada-wide class action launched by British Columbia in 2018. Of the 16 companies originally named in the lawsuit, several have already settled for a combined total of roughly $22 million. The lawsuit moves forward with eight remaining defendants. Those affected by opioid addiction still have time to register as claimants before the deadline. The outcome could impact how opioid manufacturers market their products in the future.