Crystal meth isn't the only drug making its way into headlines across Canada these days.

Announced Tuesday, Saskatchewan has joined several other provinces in a class-action lawsuit against legal prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The lawsuit alleges that manufacturers have falsely marketed opioids such as fentanyl as less addictive than other pain drugs. 

"We've decided that is the appropriate thing to do," said Saskatchewan Health Minister, Jim Reiter. "The opioid crisis has caused a lot of problems right across the country. It's lost a lot of lives and it's caused a lot of drain financially on the health care system, including in Saskatchewan."

According to statistics, there were 41 fentanyl-related deaths reported in Saskatchewan between 2010 and 2015. From 2014-15, Saskatchewan had the highest rate of hospitalizations from opioid poisonings of all Canadian provinces, at a rate of almost 21 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 13.4. 

In January, Health Canada announced an investment of more than $2.3 million over four years for the Saskatchewan Health Authority to offer a new Opioid Stewardship Program to engage health professionals, promote appropriate opioid prescribing practices and develop educational materials for practitioners as the issue continues to grow nationwide. 

To support the lawsuit, the Saskatchewan government is introducing new legislation which will give the province the ability to take direct action against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Amendments to the Health Administration Act will also allow the Health Minister to take direct action on behalf of the government to recover past and future health care costs.

Newfoundland, Labrador, Ontario and Alberta have also announced their support of the lawsuit.