May 25 Watch 4:59 News Wrap: FDA acknowledges missteps in baby formula shortage News Wrap: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf acknowledged failings by his agency in the baby formula shortage, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would not trade land for peace with Russia, the U.S. and allies South Korea… Continue watching
May 11 Watch 5:17 Overdose deaths in the U.S. reached record levels in 2021 By Geoff Bennett, Dorothy Hastings New CDC data released Wednesday indicates that deaths from drug overdoses in the U.S. reached a record-high last year. More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, the highest annual death toll ever recorded. Deaths from fentanyl, methamphetamine… Continue watching
Apr 04 Trial begins in West Virginia lawsuit against opioid manufacturers By John Raby, Associated Press Opening arguments have taken place in a West Virginia lawsuit accusing several drugmakers of misrepresenting the risks and benefits of opioids. Continue reading
Mar 03 Purdue Pharma, U.S. states agree to new settlement for opioid crisis By Geoff Mulvihill, John Seewer, Associated Press The deal reached Thursday would require members of the Sackler family who own the drugmaker to pay as much as $6 billion in cash. That's at least $1 billion more than previously agreed on. Continue reading
Feb 01 Watch 5:19 News Wrap: Olympics organizers try to allay COVID fears as opening ceremonies approach In our news wrap Tuesday, Olympic organizers in China say COVID infections are within an expected range ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies, drugmaker Johnson and Johnson and three leading drug distributors have agreed to pay $590 million to American Indian… Continue watching
Jan 13 Overdose deaths hit a historic high in 2020. Frustrated experts say these strategies could save lives By Laura Santhanam The Biden administration has embraced harm reduction strategies to prevent more people from fatally overdosing. But in order to avoid further catastrophic losses, public health experts say more bold strategies must be pursued. Continue reading
Dec 24 Watch 5:53 Why a judge rejected a settlement with the Sackler family for their role in opioid crisis By William Brangham, Courtney Norris Experts link a record number of overdoses this year from black market opioids back to the original marketing and distribution of legal opioids made by Purdue Pharma, the company owned by the Sackler family that made OxyContin. Last week, a… Continue watching
Dec 13 Watch 8:23 Do safe drug consumption sites save lives? Here’s what we know about NYC’s new venture By William Brangham, Mike Fritz, Leah Nagy Since last spring, more than 100,000 Americans have died of drug overdoses — many caused by the opioid, fentanyl. Officials are searching for solutions to try to save lives, including setting up authorized centers where people can use illegal drugs… Continue watching
Oct 04 Trial against pharmacy chains’ opioid sales begins By Mark Gillispie, Associated Press Jurors have heard opening statements in a federal court trial to determine whether retail pharmacy chains created a public nuisance in how they dispensed addictive painkillers in two Ohio counties. Continue reading
Jul 14 U.S. overdose deaths hit record 93,000 in pandemic last year By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government reported Wednesday. That estimate far eclipses the high of about 72,000 drug overdose deaths reached the previous year and amounts to… Continue reading