Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom is suing pharmaceutical companies that make and market opioid painkillers including oxycodone, fentanyl and morphine. The suit seeks recovery of costs incurred by Dakota County and its taxpayers. Backstrom alleges the companies engaged in deceptive marketing practices and encouraged doctors to prescribe opioid drugs for chronic, long-term pain while failing to disclose the addictive nature of the drugs. Backstrom says the pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable for “knowingly or negligently” creating the opioid epidemic through their “irresponsible business practices.”