Bibb County commissioners will consider whether to join a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that make and distribute opiates.
The proposed lawsuit alleges Bibb is owed damages due to the harm of opioid use in the county.
Cpt. Randy Gonzalez has been in law enforcement in Macon since 1988.
He says what used to be the biggest drug problems -- marijuana and crack cocaine abuse -- have been replaced by a new trend of prescription drug abuse.
“I mean we do see that trend, especially with prescription painkillers, medications, because people are looking towards these now,” Gonzalez said.
He oversees a task force of seven investigators and two lieutenants, all full time, that focus on nothing but drugs.
The time and money spent fighting drugs is why some think Macon-Bibb has a case to sue drug manufacturers and distributors.
Former County Attorney Virgil Adams brought the suit to the county’s attention and is advocating they join it.
He says drug companies misled the public about the benefits and addictiveness of prescription opiates.
“We believe this has led to the opioid crisis and has caused a lot of financial burdens on behalf of local governments,” Adams added.
He says the money spent funding law enforcement, drug courts, rehabilitation, and treatment centers leads to a case for damages and financial compensation.
Since 2010, the Georgia Department of Public Health says 43 people have died in Bibb County of opioid pain relief overdoses.
Out of the 152 Georgia counties that submitted data, Bibb ranked 29th highest. For comparison, Houston County was ranked 68th.
The Centers for Disease Control say for every 100 people in Bibb, doctors are writing 133 prescriptions, which is twice the national average.
Gonzalez says that's not a surprise.
“We do see that frequently, so it's not surprising, but when you actually see numbers in front of you, you look at it and say, 'Wow, is it really that many?'" Gonzalez said.
The proposed resolution would join other local government lawsuits across the United States asking for damages from drug companies.
The Athens firm of Blasingame, Burch, Garrard, and Ashley is representing other Georgia counties.
Adams’ Macon law firm would work in coordination with the Athens firm and county officials.
In part, the contract reads, "The litigation focuses on the manufacturers and wholesale distributors and their role in the diversion of millions of prescription opiates into the illicit market."
Adams says the legal team would take 30 percent of the County’s award of damages if they were to win the suit.
But, Adams says payment is dependent on a legal victory, otherwise the county is not financially responsible.