Steuben County is joining the list of nearly 20 counties across New York working together to hold those accountable for the opioid epidemic.

County legislators agreed to join a class action lawsuit to sue manufacturers and major prescribers responsible.

The county manager says 16 residents died from an opioid overdose in 2016. And this year, the numbers are higher than ever before.

"It's a scourge on our communities and we've been receiving calls from the public, 'How can the county get involved in this, how can the county help?' One of the ways that the county can help is try to hold some of the folks accountable for creating this situation," said Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler.

The county manager says their next step is to work with a law firm and the other counties.