News.Law reports Alaskan Tribes are joining national opioid litigation. Alaskan Natives and Native Americans have more overdose deaths than the rest of the U.S. population.
News.Law says nearly 450 tribes across the country have signed petitions and briefs in support of the federal lawsuit.
Alaska Public Media (APM) reports the Alaska Attorney General’s office filed its own lawsuit after Governor Bill Walker declared a public health emergency over opioids in 2018.
Loyola Law School professor Adam Zimmerman spoke with APM, telling them “..it’s clear tribal councils don’t want to leave it up to the states if and when it comes time to share any global settlement…Tribal sovereignty is very, very different than the relationship between a city and a state government..it is important (tribes) have a seat at the table.”
Read more about the opioid litigation on AlaskaPublic.org and Law.News.
Photo Credit: Steven Heap
