Since 2011, officials say prescription opioid overdoses have killed more than 3,000 South Carolinians.

That’s one of the many reasons South Carolina’s attorney general filed a historic lawsuit Tuesday against one of the companies that makes such drugs.

ABC15 News spoke with people who have personal connections to the epidemic, they say it’s about time.

“I ended up going to a walk-in doctor’s clinic because I thought that I had the flu. I thought that I had restless leg syndrome–did not know what was going on and I was in withdrawal. Opioid withdrawal and my body had become chemically dependent,” said Jennifer Seevers.

Seevers was born without hip sockets and doctors prescribed opioids for her pain for years. She said she knows the dangers of these drugs first hand and wonders if the lawsuit will bring change.

“Are the monies that are going to be recouped from the lawsuit, are they really going to go back to treating this problem?” She said she wants to know the answer to that question.

A release from the office of Attorney General Alan Wilson says Purdue Pharma continued to tell doctors the following:

“The pharmaceutical companies are the head of the snake. You’re not going to stop the process and stop the poisoning until you cut off the head of the snake and, in corporate America or anybody that owns a business, financially, that’s where it hurts, and it gets your attention,” said Seevers.

Janice Wright-Collier is also hopeful that change will come soon.

Since learning of her son’s addiction, she’s done plenty of research on Purdue Pharma.

“Incredibly evil, and it’s all for profit, what they did, and have caused this huge gigantic nightmare that we’re living in right now,” Collier said.

She’s hoping this suit will bring more inpatient treatment facilities to the area but, more than anything, she says she’s thrilled that the company could finally be held accountable.

“And I’m just glad I’m getting to see it,” said Wright-Collier.

For a look at the full complaint, click here.

If you’d like to attend an event to honor the lives of those touched by addiction, TAM (The Addicts’ Mom organization) is holding “Lights of Hope”.

It’s a nationwide campaign and two events will take place locally on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. They’re at South Strand Community Church and Parkway Community Baptist Church.