The State of West Virginia filed suit against Purdue Frederick, Co., Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Inc. and Abbott Laboratories, claiming that these organizations aggressively marketed the painkiller OxyContin without disclosing the potential for abuse. The suit seeks civil penalties and unspecified damages.

The lawsuit claims that the companies used inappropriate marketing tactics to maximize OxyContin prescriptions.

OxyContin is a synthetic morphine used to assist cancer patients and other individuals living with chronic pain. Illegal use of the drug has caused hundreds of deaths.