New York | New York is suing the billionaire family behind the company that created OxyContin, joining a growing list of state and local governments seeking to hold the firm and its owners accountable for America's opioid crisis.

The state, which averages nine opioid-related deaths per day, on Thursday (Friday AEDT) expanded an existing lawsuit against pill maker Purdue Pharma to add members of its controlling Sackler family as defendants. Five other companies that produce opioid painkillers and four drug distributors, which buy medications in bulk and sell them to pharmacies, were also added as defendants.

AAP