The Dutchess County Government filed a lawsuit June 6 in New York State Supreme Court against 11 pharmaceutical companies for "aggressive and fraudulent marketing of prescription opioid painkillers." Dutchess joins Broome, Erie, Orange, and Suffolk counties with similar lawsuits filed recently. The counties are blaming the pharmaceutical companies for the opioid drug addiction and overdose epidemic currently plaguing the nation. “The opioid and heroin epidemic is the public health crisis of our lifetime and Dutchess County has lost far too many lives to this scourge. We are devoting as many resources as possible to fight this epidemic and assist those battling addiction,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro. “It is time drug companies acknowledge the devastating damage, take responsibility for their deceptive marketing practices, and be held accountable for misrepresenting the dangers of these addictive painkillers.” The New York State Department of Health reported 805 opioid-related emergency department admissions in Dutchess County in 2014, up 45 percent from 2010. In all, 256 Dutchess County residents have died from opioids from 2003 through 2014.