CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- North Carolina attorney general Josh Stein filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma in May, accusing the company of lying about patient abuse, discrediting non-opioid pain relievers, pushing for higher doses, and targeting vulnerable populations including veterans and seniors.

• The attorney general says the company pushed for higher doses among other things
• The lawwsuit was filed in May
• He says the goal is to save people's lives

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, was aware of significant abuse by patients within the first year of putting OxyContin on the market in 1996, according to a report from the New York Times.

“There’s no light switch to make this crisis go away,” Stein said. “But, if we do everything we can when we can, we can ultimately turn the tide on this crisis. And most importantly, save people's lives.”

On its website, Purdue Pharma now publicly acknowledges widespread abuse. And without taking responsibility, says it’s working to fight the opioid epidemic.