LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A federal appeals court has dismissed a lawsuit by 20 Arkansas counties seeking money from cold-medicine manufacturers over the fact their products can be used to make methamphetamine.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals at St. Louis ruled Monday that the lawsuit could open an "avalanche" of similar suits against other industries that make products used to cook meth. While judges acknowledged some suits against gun manufacturers used the same logic, the court said it couldn't say Arkansas courts would use the same reasoning.

The counties sued drug manufacturers, asking them to recoup costs for cleaning up meth labs and caring for addicts. The 20 counties in the suit include Ashley, Benton, Chicot, Cleburne, Conway, Cross, Faulkner, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Monroe, Nevada, Pulaski, Sevier, Sharp, Stone, Union and Woodruff counties.

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