Should drug companies be held liable for the opioid crisis?

Last week, an Oklahoma judge ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $572 million for its role in the opioid epidemic. It’s the first time a drug manufacturer has been held legally responsible for contributing to the opioid crisis. Prescription opioids have caused more than 200,000 deaths in the past two decades. The cause is often linked to overprescription of pain medication. In the decision, Judge Thad Balkman ruled with the state of Oklahoma that Johnson & Johnson created a public nuisance by contributing to the opioid crisis.