December 5, 2019

Misuse Increases for Gabapentin and Baclofen, Used to Treat Chronic Pain

The drugs gabapentin and baclofen, both of which are sometimes prescribed instead of opioids for chronic pain, are increasingly being misused, according to a new report. The drugs are being used in a growing number of suicide attempts.

November 21, 2019

Judge Reduces Johnson & Johnson Opioid Verdict by More Than $100 Million

A judge in Oklahoma has reduced a verdict against opioid maker Johnson & Johnson by more than $100 million, NPR reports.

October 31, 2019

Report Finds Total Cost of Opioid Epidemic Reaches $179 Billion Annually

The total cost of the opioid epidemic is $179 billion per year in the United States, according to a new report by the Society of Actuaries.

October 24, 2019

Featured News: Analysis of Drug Tests Finds Frequent Misuse of Opioids and Other Controlled Drugs

Prescription drug misuse continues to be a serious problem in the United States, according to a new report by Quest Diagnostics.

October 24, 2019

$260 Million Settlement Announced in Opioid Epidemic Case

Four drug companies and two Ohio counties have reached a $260 million settlement in a landmark lawsuit over the opioid epidemic, The Washington Post reports.

October 17, 2019

Drugs Makers and Distributors in Talks to Settle Opioid Lawsuits for $50 Billion

Three drug distributors and two drug manufacturers are in talks to settle more than 2,000 lawsuits over the companies’ role in the nation’s opioid crisis, Reuters reports.

October 10, 2019

OxyContin Maker Sent Billions to Members of Family Who Owned Company

Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, sent $12 billion or $13 billion in profits to members of the Sackler family who own the company, according to The Wall Street Journal.

white pills and bottle spilled over money

October 3, 2019

Johnson & Johnson Announces $20.4 Million Settlement Ahead of Opioid Trial

Johnson & Johnson announced it has reached a $20.4 million settlement with two Ohio counties ahead of a huge federal trial to determine responsibility for the opioid crisis, The Washington Post reports.

September 26, 2019

Purdue Pharma Settlement a “Stopgap” For Areas Hardest Hit by Opioid Crisis: Report

The proposed settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is “no more than a stopgap for local and state governments,” which will continue to face costs related to the opioid crisis that far exceed the agreed upon amounts, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Services.

September 19, 2019

OxyContin Maker Files for Bankruptcy

Purdue Pharma, the company that makes the opioid painkiller OxyContin, has filed for bankruptcy, CNN reports.

September 12, 2019

OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma Agrees to Tentative Opioid Lawsuit Settlement

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma has reached a tentative settlement worth billions of dollars to resolve thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments who sued the drug company for its role in the opioid epidemic.

August 15, 2019

Expert Panel Recommends Doctors Screen All Adult Patients for Illicit Drug Use

A national task force is recommending that doctors screen all adult patients for illicit drug use, including nonmedical use of prescription drugs, The New York Times reports.

August 8, 2019

Many Teens Who Misuse Prescription Drugs Get Them From Multiple Sources

New research finds 44% of high school seniors who misuse prescription drugs get them from multiple sources, HealthDay reports.

July 25, 2019

Court Filing: Drug Makers and Distributors Didn’t Analyze Suspicious Opioid Orders

A new motion filed in federal court alleges many drug makers and distributors did not implement basic systems to stop suspicious opioid orders, The Wall Street Journal reports.

July 18, 2019

Death Rates From Opioids Highest in Areas With Most Painkiller Prescriptions

Opioid-related death rates between 2006 and 2012 were highest in rural communities in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia with a disproportionate share of opioid painkiller prescriptions, according to an analysis by The Washington Post.

Medications on the Shelves of a Medicine Cabinet

July 11, 2019

Having Family Member with Opioid Prescription Increases Risk of Overdose

Having a family member with an opioid prescription increases a person’s risk of ending up in the emergency room with a drug overdose almost threefold, a new study suggests.

June 20, 2019

Featured News: National Survey Highlights Parents’ Role in Protecting Teens From Substance Use

Parents of adolescents can play a valuable role in protecting their teens from substance use, a new national survey by Center on Addiction finds.

May 30, 2019

Father of Football Player Who Died of Opioid Overdose Testifies in Drug Company Trial

On the second day of trial of a lawsuit against drug company Johnson & Johnson, the father of a college football player who died of an opioid overdose gave emotional testimony about the personal impact of the opioid crisis, Reuters reports.

May 30, 2019

Many State and Local Officials Say Drug Industry Should Pay for Opioid Epidemic

As lawsuits against opioid manufacturers increase, a growing number of state and local officials say the companies should pay for the costs of the country’s opioid crisis, NPR reports.

May 23, 2019

Facebook Launches Initiative to Encourage Discussion on Opioid Dependency

Facebook is collaborating with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids + Center on Addiction to launch an initiative to encourage people to discuss their experiences with opioid dependency.

May 23, 2019

OxyContin Maker Sued by Six Additional States

Six additional states—Kansas, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin—have filed lawsuits against the maker of OxyContin in state courts, according to The Wall Street Journal.

May 16, 2019

Some People Still May Get Opioids From Relatives Despite “Doctor Shopping” Crackdown

Some people who can no longer “doctor shop” to get multiple prescriptions for opioid painkillers because of stricter regulations are still able to get the drugs from relatives with prescriptions, a new study suggests.

May 9, 2019

Featured Commentary: The Opioid Epidemic’s Untold Story

The opioid epidemic has put enormous strain on our nation’s state courts, many of which have been overwhelmed by growing dockets and shrinking resources, leaders from the National Judicial Opioid Task Force explain.

April 18, 2019

Prosecutors Charge 60 People with Illegally Prescribing, Distributing Opioids

The Justice Department on Wednesday announced 53 medical professionals and seven other individuals have been charged in connection with allegedly illegally prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics.

April 4, 2019

Sackler Family Role in Opioid Crisis Highlighted in Lawsuits

Lawsuits filed by the attorneys general in Massachusetts and New York have brought to light the extensive involvement of the Sackler family, which owns OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, in the opioid crisis, The New York Times reports.

Where Families Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Latest Drug & Alcohol News: Prescription Drug Abuse

Misuse Increases for Gabapentin and Baclofen, Used to Treat Chronic Pain

Judge Reduces Johnson & Johnson Opioid Verdict by More Than $100 Million

Report Finds Total Cost of Opioid Epidemic Reaches $179 Billion Annually

Featured News: Analysis of Drug Tests Finds Frequent Misuse of Opioids and Other Controlled Drugs

$260 Million Settlement Announced in Opioid Epidemic Case

Drugs Makers and Distributors in Talks to Settle Opioid Lawsuits for $50 Billion

OxyContin Maker Sent Billions to Members of Family Who Owned Company

Johnson & Johnson Announces $20.4 Million Settlement Ahead of Opioid Trial

Purdue Pharma Settlement a “Stopgap” For Areas Hardest Hit by Opioid Crisis: Report

OxyContin Maker Files for Bankruptcy

OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma Agrees to Tentative Opioid Lawsuit Settlement

Expert Panel Recommends Doctors Screen All Adult Patients for Illicit Drug Use

Many Teens Who Misuse Prescription Drugs Get Them From Multiple Sources

Court Filing: Drug Makers and Distributors Didn’t Analyze Suspicious Opioid Orders

Death Rates From Opioids Highest in Areas With Most Painkiller Prescriptions

Having Family Member with Opioid Prescription Increases Risk of Overdose

Featured News: National Survey Highlights Parents’ Role in Protecting Teens From Substance Use

Father of Football Player Who Died of Opioid Overdose Testifies in Drug Company Trial

Many State and Local Officials Say Drug Industry Should Pay for Opioid Epidemic

Facebook Launches Initiative to Encourage Discussion on Opioid Dependency

OxyContin Maker Sued by Six Additional States

Some People Still May Get Opioids From Relatives Despite “Doctor Shopping” Crackdown

Featured Commentary: The Opioid Epidemic’s Untold Story

Prosecutors Charge 60 People with Illegally Prescribing, Distributing Opioids

Sackler Family Role in Opioid Crisis Highlighted in Lawsuits

Exciting Changes are Coming

Latest Drug & Alcohol News: Prescription Drug Abuse