California sues opioid maker Purdue Pharma

California has become the latest state to sue the pharmaceutical company behind the painkiller OxyContin, alleging it falsely promoted the drug as not addictive even as it emerged as one of the most widely abused in the U.S.

State Attorney General Xavier Becerra accused Purdue and its former president, Dr. Richard Sackler, of stoking the crisis with irresponsible practices.

The suit was filed as the country grapples with a rising number of fatal drug overdoses linked to opioids.

Maine also sued Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family, alleging they committed unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Opioids were involved in more than 47,000 fatal overdoses during 2017 alone.

Purdue and other opioid manufacturers are facing lawsuits from state and local governments over the marketing and promotion of opioids.

In a statement, Purdue Pharma and former directors of the company denied the allegations in the California lawsuit and vowed to defend against the "misleading attacks."