Nearly a dozen pharmaceutical companies and four doctors are being sued over allegedly fueling the opioid epidemic in Orange County.

The new lawsuit filed by the county claims physicians Russell Portenoy, Perry Fine, Scott Fishman and Lynn Webster and 11 drug companies used deceptive practices to "aggressively" promote the use of powerful painkillers.

The county is now seeking compensation and punitive damages for the millions of dollars it spends each year to combat opioid addiction.

Similar lawsuits have also been filed by the state attorney general, along with counties on Long Island and upstate.