Health Jun 18 U.S. states agree to multi-billion dollar settlement with Purdue Pharma over opioid crisis By Lisa Desjardins, Azhar Merchant
Nation Dec 17 Watch 10:21 Opioid crisis renews focus on expanding access to methadone treatment While the numbers are finally starting to decline, more than 74,000 Americans are still dying every year from opioid overdoses. Despite that, very few people who are struggling with addiction get treatment. William Brangham looks at the renewed focus on… By William Brangham, Mike Fritz
Health Dec 09 People hit hardest by opioid crisis often don’t get a say in how settlement money is spent Public health advocates say the money should be used in ways proven to save lives, prevent drug use and focus on racial equity and that the decisions should be transparent. But many communities are following regular government spending practices rather… By Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press
Politics Jun 27 Supreme Court rejects nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma After deliberating more than six months, the justices in a 5-4 vote blocked an agreement hammered out with state and local governments and victims. The Sacklers would have contributed up to $6 billion and given up ownership of the company… By Mark Sherman, Associated Press
Economy Feb 07 DEA reverses decision stripping drug distributor of licenses for fueling opioid crisis As part of the settlement announced Wednesday, Morris & Dickson Co. agreed to admit wrongdoing, comply with heightened reporting requirements and surrender one of its two certificates of registration with the DEA. By Joshua Goodman, Jim Mustian, Associated Press
Jan 24 Washington state reaches $149.5 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson over opioid crisis By Manuel Valdes, Hallie Golden, Associated Press Attorney General Bob Ferguson's announcement Wednesday comes as opioid overdose deaths have risen across the state, with 2,048 in 2022. That's more than twice as many deaths as there were in 2019. Continue reading
Jan 17 Some New Hampshire residents want better answers from the 2024 candidates on the opioid crisis By Holly Ramer, Associated Press Former President Donald Trump, who once described New Hampshire as a "drug-infested den," has proposed using the military against foreign drug cartels, a view echoed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. Continue reading
Dec 30 McKinsey and Co. agrees to $78 million settlement over claims it helped fuel opioid crisis By Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press Consulting firm McKinsey and Co. has agreed to pay $78 million to settle claims from insurers and health care funds that its work with drug companies helped fuel an opioid addiction crisis. Under the agreement, McKinsey would establish a fund… Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch 8:47 Racial disparity in addiction treatment access highlights inequities of opioid epidemic By William Brangham, Dorothy Hastings, Mike Fritz The CDC says synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, contributed to about 75,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2022. It's a crisis that hits every demographic group, but there are large racial disparities between who is offered the most effective… Continue watching
Oct 08 Watch 6:38 Why the U.S. is pressuring China amid a crackdown on the global fentanyl trade By Ali Rogin, Claire Mufson The Biden administration has made recent moves against China-based firms and executives blamed for supplying chemicals used to make fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It’s part of the U.S. government’s effort to disrupt the… Continue watching