From Working America: We need a governor willing to take on big pharma’s greed

By MELISSA MISER

Night after night, Working America canvassers going door-to-door hear from families in our state that they are desperate for a solution to the opioid crisis.  

When drug companies put profits above patients, we lose sons, mothers and neighbors. Kentucky can’t wait any longer for a governor who will stand up to the greed of Big Pharma. We need Andy Beshear.

In 2017, OxyContin and fentanyl manufacturer Purdue Pharma reported a revenue of $3 billion. In that same year, medical providers in Kentucky wrote 86.8 opioid prescriptions per 100 persons and the number of synthetic opioid-related deaths increased tenfold since 2013 — the main culprit was fentanyl.

While Kentuckians continue to grapple with the damage done to their families and communities, the wealthy Sackler family — owners of Purdue Pharma — are trying to evade responsibility by filing for bankruptcy and allegedly hiding a billion dollars in Swiss off-shore accounts.

As attorney general, Andy Beshear is aggressively holding drug companies responsible for their roles in the opioid epidemic. Beshear has the track record to prove that he’s on the side of working people in our state.

For too long, pharmaceutical companies have profited off the pain in Kentucky. We need a fighter in office, someone who isn't afraid to take them on and give victims of addiction and their families a voice.

That’s Andy Beshear. Vote for Andy Beshear on Tuesday, Nov. 5.