Opioid Crisis
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This page offers the latest updates on the opioid crisis from a collection of many news sources. Click on the image to access the article. Read through to stay informed.
Opioid Settlement Offer Provokes Clash Between States and Cities
This article explains how a collective of pharmaceutical companies have offered a sizeable settlement totaling $19.2 billion dollars to all litigants, including states, counties, and cities. The states have been more agreeable to this deal, but the latter two have not been in favor of this. They arguethat these corporations could afford providing a larger sum between $35-$50 billion over a shorter timespan than currently offered.
Joe Biden’s new plan to end the opioid epidemic is the most ambitious in the field
This article details former Vice President Joe Biden’s plan to address the opioid epidemic. Some highlights of the plan include less focus on policing and a whopping $125 billion in funding spread out over 10 years to help increase treatment and curtail overprescription practices, among other things.
The Opioid Epidemic Might Be Much Worse Than We Thought
This article goes over how differences in post-mortem practices and classification have led to the undercounting of individuals from opioids. Underestimating this number has several policy and cultural implications. Particularly, more funding or comprehensive policy could have been passed at a state and federal level if the true extent of the crisis had been known.
New York effort raises use of MAT for opioid-use disorder
This article explains how New York City is aiming to reduce overdose death-rates by getting more people access to treatment while lowering racial inequalities in the process. More effort to use MAT for opioid-use disorder is emphasized, with emphasis on more mitigation for funding primary care and syringe-exchange programs.
Black patients less likely to get treatment for opioid-use disorder
This article details the racial disparities that are experienced within the opioid crisis and access to healthcare resources, especially pertaining to black patients. Even though the FDA has approved methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and buprenorphine-naloxone treatments for MAT, it doesn't mean that everyone can access them. This article lists statistics in racial disparities that are present within healthcare access.
FDA plagued by lack of training and oversight during opioid crisis, report says
This article highlights how the FDA may have failed to properly set strict enough standards and follow-up training with doctors about opioid-use risks. Lack of training and oversight is what caused the pervasive opioid epidemic that has killed tens of thousands of people a year. There is a need for better safety procedures and mitigation strategies.
Babies born addicted to opioids cost U.S. more than half a billion dollars a year
A new study found that babies born addicted to opioids cost the U.S. health care system more than half a billion dollars a year. These include the long-term effects of being born premature or at a low birth weight, as well as exposures as they grow up to drugs, alcohol, poverty and food insecurity.
Purdue paid out $10.4 billion to Sackler family as opioid crisis grew
The article details how the Sackler familiy withdrew 10.4 million from Purdue Pharma during the last decade after the company pleaded guilty for misleading doctors and patients about the risks of Oxycontin. More transparency is needed to find how big of a role the Sackler family played in the opioid epidemic.
Opioid epidemic cost U.S. more than $600 billion over 4 years
The opioid crisis, declared a federal public health emergency, reached about 631 billion from 2015 to 2018. In 2019, the crisis cost the economy another $214 billion, leading to a loss in lifetime earnings, excess healthcare spending, and a drain on the legal system. Along with this, there is more that goes beyond economic activity such as the impact on quality of life as well as fulfilling societal roles.
Virginia doctor who prescribed more than 500,000 doses of opioids sentenced to 40 years in prison
Dr. Joel Smith was sentenced to 40 years in prison for running a medical practice for illegally prescribing opioids. It is said he prescribed more than 500,000 doses of opioids to patients to surrounding states as well.
Even with its bankruptcy filing, Purdue Pharma may not be off the hook
Even while filing for bankruptcy protection, Oxycontin creator Purdue Pharma has not expressed responsibility for the opioid crisis. Filing bankruptcy allows for Purdue Pharma to settle thousands of lawsuits filed by state and local governments. While Purdue Pharma does express sympathy, admitting wrongdoing is not part of their agenda, leading up to other problems they must face.
The opioid epidemic: Who is to blame?
The opioid epidemic is one of the most devastating public health emergencies in the 21st for Americans, with tens of thousands of people dying from opioid overdose each year. This article examines the major participants and stakeholders who all contributed to the opioid crisis. These participants include not only pharmaceutical companies and drug distributors, but government and policy makers as well.