COOK COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - One South Georgia rehabilitation organization spoke out Thursday in favor of the class action lawsuit filed by Cook County against several major pharmaceutical companies for the opioid crisis.
Open Door Christian Home works with men who struggle with drug addiction in Adel and says hopefully this lawsuit will open the eyes of these companies.
Tim Merton, the director of Open Door Christian Home Rehabilitation facility, says he supports their decision.
"I believe that they're on track with suing some of these big pharmaceutical manufactures," said Merton.
The lawsuit calls for defendants to compensate Cook County for costs incurred by the opioid epidemic, such as medical care, counseling and law-enforcement costs, as well as attorney fees and court costs.
"Most of our clients are because of opioid addiction which generally will lead to opiate addiction, which is heroine and some of the heavier drugs," said Merton.
Open Door is a faith base, live-in organization that houses up to 17 men at a time, helping them maintain sobriety through a 12-step program after a 28 day inpatient program.
They attend church regularly and help them find jobs.
"I think in the future, if there's more accountability, stricter laws, there possibly won't be as much addiction," said Merton.
Merton says he is seeing the opioid crisis shifting to a younger age group.
"When kids get hurt playing sports and that kind of thing, they're prescribing them painkillers, the opioids, at young ages and they're getting addicted 12,13,14 years old," said Merton.
Mertons says pay attention to people you care about, as this impacts everyone.
"Everybody knows a family member a friend, somebody, but the stigma of it causes people to keep it as well hidden as they possibly can until it becomes obvious that their life is out of control," said Merton.
