Health Highlights: June 14, 2017

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Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

Tennessee Prosecutors Sue Opioid Painkiller Makers

A lawsuit against three pharmaceutical companies that make opioid painkillers was filed Tuesday by three Tennessee prosecutors.

The legal action was launched by the district attorneys general for three east Tennessee judicial districts collectively representing nine counties. They blame Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt and Endo Pharmaceuticals for the opioid epidemic in Tennessee, USA Today reported.

The lawsuit alleges the companies lied about the addictive nature of prescription opiates and actively promoted the drugs as miracle cures for many types of pain.

Tennessee has more opiate prescriptions per capita than any state other than West Virginia, USA Today reported.

Similar lawsuits against prescription opioid makers have been filed in Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi, New York California and Washington, and by The Cherokee Nation in tribal court.

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