The Newfoundland and Labrador government is determining whether it has grounds to sue the makers of the powerful narcotic OxyContin over millions of dollars it spent treating addicts.

The government is carefully reviewing a plea agreement in a Virginia court last week in which Purdue Pharma and three executives admitted to charges of misbranding, Justice Minister Tom Osborne told CBC News.

Justice Minister Tom Osborne says his department is considering a lawsuit against the makers of OxyContin.
(CBC)

"We need to determine here what conditions are similar, and whether or not there's a case against Purdue by this province," said Osborne, a former health minister.

The Virginia charges — which involve mislabelling, and fraudulently promoting or marketing a drug for an unapproved use — brought fines of $634,515,475 US after executives admitted that the company had made false claims about the drug's risk of addiction.

Osborne said Newfoundland and Labrador may proceed with a suit of its own if it can demonstrate that Purdue made similar claims within its jurisdiction.

OxyContin emerged as such a serious public health threat in Newfoundland and Labrador several years ago that it commissioned a task force to deal with it.

The task force, which reported in 2004, recommended a series of measures, from tamper-proof prescription pads, to a campaign to educate youth to the risks of addiction to OxyContin and other narcotics.

Osborne said the current review will examine Purdue Pharma's "claims in the States … and what similarities there are here in Newfoundland and Labrador."

Osborne stressed that discussions within the government are only at a preliminary stage.

He added, though, that other provinces are looking at similar litigation.

Maureen Harvey, who became an advocate for families torn apart by addiction when her daughter, Sonya Harvey, became hooked on OxyContin, said she was shocked by disclosures from the U.S. case.

"I'm appalled that humans could do this," Harvey told CBC News on Tuesday. "I can't imagine how they could knowingly do this type of thing."