The attorneys general of 41 states, including Florida, are investigating opioid makers for possible deceptive practices that may have contributed to the nation's opioid epidemic.

  • 41 states subpeonaing opioid makers for documents
  • Looking for deceptive practices contributing to the opioid epidemic
  • In Florida, 1,616 people died in the first six months of 2016

Attorney General Pam Bondi joined state attorneys across the country in issuing subpeonas from the following opioid manufacturers:

  • Endo International -- Percocet, Opana ER 
  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals -- Duragesic, Ultracet, Ultram
  • Teva Pharmaceuticals -- manufactures generics like Hydromorphone, Morphine and Oxycodone
  • Allergan -- Kadian, Norco
The group also asked for additional documents from Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, among others.

The group also demanded documents from distribution companies AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.

Over the last decade, the growth of opioids has contributed to drug overdoses across the country. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, in the first six months of 2016, 1,616 people died with at least one prescription drug contributing to their death. 

Bondi says prescription drugs are cited more often than illegal drugs as the cause of drug-related deaths in Florida. 

“Florida citizens continue to become addicted to opioids and die daily -- meanwhile, prescription drug manufacturers, distributors and the medical profession all point fingers at each other as the cause of this national crisis,” said Bondi in Tuesday's announcement. “This far-reaching multi-state investigation is designed to get the answers we need as quickly as possible. The industry must do the right thing. If they do not, we are prepared to litigate.”

You can read the letters sent to the pharmaceutical companies by going to the attorney general's website.