Ohio’s attorney general this week sued five drug manufacturers, claiming they contributed to the state’s painkiller epidemic. But the attorney general's office is not saying if they plan to go after another major link in the pharmaceutical chain.
Drug distributors like Dublin-based Cardinal Health were noticeably absent from Mike DeWine’s lawsuit.
Cardinal, the nation's second-largest drug distributor, paid $20 million this year to settle a lawsuit from West Virginia officials who said Cardinal helped flood the market with pills that led to widespread abuse.
When asked if his office would go after Cardinal or other distributors, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney repeatedly said they’re currently focused on the suit against drug makers.
Tierney also said DeWine, a Republician who’s running for governor next year, has not been influenced by the more than $13,000 in campaign contributions he’s received from Cardinal since 2012.
A statement from Cardinal says the company is committed to helping solve the opioid crisis through technology and prevention programs.
A Cardinal spokeswoman says they give to a lot of local politicians, including Democrats.
Campaign finance records show Cardinal has given Democratic State Senator and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Joe Schiavoni $4,000 since 2012.
Campaign finance figures show since 2012, Cardinal has also given $33,543 to Governor John Kasich and $12,500 to Secretary of State Jon Husted, who is also running for governor.
