CHICOPEE - City officials will file suit against pharmaceutical companies which manufacture and distribute opioids, saying they have contributed to the drug epidemic that has sapped extensive resources from the community.

Mayor Richard J. Kos announced Monday he has retained the Colchester, Connecticut law firm of Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP. to represent city in opioid epidemic litigation.

In doing so, Chicopee joins dozens of communities across the state who are attempting to take legal action against pharmaceutical companies.

Chicopee has been hit especially hard by the crisis and has one of the highest per-capita overdose death rates in Western Massachusetts. Only Ware and three towns with very small populations have higher per-capita rates.

A state study shows 20 Chicopee residents died of opioid overdoses in 2015 and 26 died in 2016. In 2016 there were a total of 242 opioid overdoses in the city.

To compare, Springfield, whose population is three times greater, had 41 overdose deaths each in 2015 and 2016. Holyoke, which has about 40,000 people, had seven overdose deaths in 2015 and 11 in 2016. Chicopee has a population of about 55,000.

"The city's agencies and personnel have devoted and increasingly large amount of its' resources on public health, social and human services, law enforcement, police, fire and first responders, and outreach initiatives designed to combat the crisis created by the defendants' unlawful conduct," Kos said in a written announcement.

Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law was selected in part because the firm has a long history of experience prosecuting difficult and complex litigations. During negotiations attorneys showed personal understanding of the harm the epidemic has wreaked on the citizens and resources in the city, Marshall Moriarty, the city solicitor, said.

The firm is also representing multiple other communities including Springfield and Worcester, as they go forward to sue pharmaceutical companies.

Under the agreement Chicopee will not be responsible for any attorney fees or expenses but Scott + Scott Attorneys will earn a percentage of any funds Chicopee receives from the suit. Officials did not say what the amount will be but the law firm's agreement with Springfield will grant Scott+Scott 22.5 percent of Springfield's total recovery.

"It is only appropriate that those that are ultimately responsible for this tragedy and the damage to so many lives be held responsible. We hope that our efforts through litigation will not only in some way make the situation better, but also provide relief to the financial burden it has placed on our community," Kos said.

In April, City Councilors Joel McAuliffe, Robert Zygarowski and William Courchesne sent a letter to Kos asking him to join the city in a class-action suit against the prescription drug industry. At the time Kos responded saying he and the city legal department had already started the process.

After the announcement, McAuliffe said he is pleased to see the city is joining with other communities to sue pharmaceutical companies.

"Big pharma has played a significant role in creating the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our communities and it is time they be held accountable," he said.

Greenfield was the first community in the area to attempt to sue drug manufacturers and companies, it has hired Sweeney Merrigan Law to join a multi-district litigation against defendants, McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen.

In June Holyoke also entered into an agreement to join the multi-district litigation of over 450 suits filed in federal courts across the country by municipalities claiming different but related damages caused by the opioid epidemic. The city has also entered into an agreement with Sweeny Merrigan Law and will pay no legal fees but will receive part of any compensation if money is recovered in the suit.

Agawam and West Springfield have also entered into litigation against opioid manufactures. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said June 12 the state was filing suit against Purdue Pharma due to the opioid epidemic.