Apr 24 Watch 6:14 How federal case against drug distributor could change opioid fight Amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, drug manufacturers, doctors and pharmacists have all come under fire. But it's a drug distributor, a company called RDC, at the center of a new federal criminal case that equates its business operations with illegal… Continue watching
Apr 23 Ex-CEO is first drug exec indicted in opioid crisis, U.S. Attorney says By Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press The indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges former Rochester Drug Co-Operative CEO Laurence Doud III ordered subordinates to ignore red flags about certain pharmacy customers to maximize company revenues and his own pay, which more than doubled between 2012 and 2016 as… Continue reading
Apr 04 Oklahoma drops some claims in lawsuit against opioid manufacturers By Tim Talley, Associated Press The state attorney general's office will continue to pursue allegations that the drugmakers created a public nuisance, which he says is the most important allegation against the drugmakers. Continue reading
Mar 28 Watch 6:16 What New York state’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma says about U.S. opioid battle More than 400,000 people in the U.S. have died from opioid use in the past two decades. As the country tries to contain the crisis, many states and cities are challenging the drug manufacturers in court. The latest lawsuit, brought… Continue watching
Mar 26 What Purdue Pharma’s settlement with Oklahoma means for the opioid crisis By Laura Santhanam Here's a breakdown of how significant the $270 million settlement is in the context of the nation's continued struggle with opioids, overdoses and need for harm reduction and treatment. Continue reading
Mar 15 Will fewer opioid prescriptions help kick the crisis? By Laura Santhanam Of all physicians, primary care doctors most frequently doled out first-time opioid prescriptions, suggested a study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. Continue reading
Feb 15 Drug company used rap video to push for higher fentanyl doses and sales By Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press The video is the latest eyebrow-raising piece of evidence in the trial, which has put a spotlight on the federal government's efforts to go after those it says are responsible for fueling the deadly drug crisis. Continue reading
Jan 01 Watch 7:06 Will drug companies be held accountable for America’s opioid epidemic? The nation’s opioid crisis was declared a public health emergency in 2017 and received new funding this past October. But rampant addiction led to some 40,000 overdose deaths in the U.S. last year, and 2019 could see the culmination of… Continue watching
Dec 28 Art is a lifeline for this Appalachian community hit hard by opioids By Laura Santhanam This music workshop helps to keep two things alive -- the region’s arts and culture and residents' ability to recover from addiction. Continue reading
Nov 30 Michael Bloomberg’s charity donates $50 million to fight opioid epidemic By Associated Press Bloomberg Philanthropies said over the next three years it will help up to 10 states address the causes of opioid addiction and strengthen prevention and treatment programs. Continue reading