Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Health and Human Services Committee Tue., Aug. 15, advanced a resolution authorizing the county to join a statewide class action lawsuit against certain pharmaceutical companies accused of falsely advertising their products as safe and nonaddictive. Greene County is expected to join the litigation, as well. The plaintiffs are seeking to recoup money spent on mental health programs, addiction programs, public defenders and district attorneys, probation services and jail expenses. Albany, Dutchess and Schenectady counties have already joined the lawsuit. The Healthcare Consortium reported six opioid-related deaths in Columbia County and eight in Greene County in 2015. According to the data, 194 people in Columbia County received some form of treatment for a chemical dependence crisis in 2015; 144 people in Greene County were similarly treated that same year. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.