Broome County is suing a number of doctors and pharmaceutical companies to hold them accountable for aiding in the heroin epidemic.

Broome County officially filed a lawsuit against 13 companies and doctors including Johnson & Johnson and Purdue Pharmaceuticals.

The lawsuit alleges that the drug companies used deceptive advertising that did not fully disclose the dangers of their products.

County Attorney Robert Behnke says they are looking to receive compensation for money used to to fight the epidemic such as funding for police and other public safety, which totals in the millions.

County Executive Jason Garnar says it’s time to take a stand against Big Pharma.

“My hope is that people will join us and put aside any fear of going after a big pharmaceutical company. I can only speak to what I see here. 76 people died in Broome County in a population of 200,000 people last year. That affected a tremendous amount of families,” said Garnar.

The defendants have 20 days to respond, but Behnke says it will be a long process.

A determination of whether the suit goes to trial or is settled might not take place for a number of years.

Broome County was also a part of a lawsuit filed against big tobacco in the 1990s.