Tackling the Opioid Crisis: Industry Improvements Needed
As the opioid crisis worsens, safety measures to help avoid over-prescribing are necessary. PDMPs and pharmacist/physician education are two means of tackling the issue.
Drugs & Medical Devices
Massachusetts Says the Sackler Family at Fault for the Epidemic
Massachusetts’ lawsuit, originally filed in June in Suffolk County Superior Court, was the first by a state to pursue Purdue’s Sackler family directly and hold them personally responsible for contributing to the opioid epidemic.
Building a Wall Will Not Solve the Opioid Problem
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Congress, and the White House have long faced significant obstacles regulating pharmaceutical drugs. Because of this, policymakers are reluctant to regulate legal drugs and primarily target the illegal drug market instead.
Wisconsin Continues to Use MAT in ERs to Help Addicts
Wisconsin Continues to Use MAT in ERs to Help Addicts
Drug Companies Motion for Gag Orders and Sanctions Against Plaintiffs
A new trend has emerged. Drug companies are filing motions for gag orders and sanctions against plaintiffs amid ongoing litigation.
Hospital Price Lists Can be Extremely Confusing to Patients
The federal government is requiring hospitals across the nation to post their standard prices on their websites starting this year. Consumer advocates and industry experts say this is a step in the right direction, but the lists are still confusing to patients.
American Heart Association Offers Opioid Care Courses
The American Heart Association (AHA) has begun to offer courses in treating opioid addiction specifically for healthcare professionals and laypersons involved in emergency care.
Georgia Joins Litigation Against Opioid Manufacturers
Georgia has officially joined the litigation against opioid manufacturers. The lawsuit comes after approximately 70 cities and counties in the state made similar allegations in their local courts.
Creative Efforts are Saving the Lives of Addicts
Out-of-the-box efforts to curtail the effects of the opioid epidemic have proven to be most helpful, but there is much work still to be done.
Former Insys CEO Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Fraud Charges
Michael Babich, the former Insys CEO who resigned in 2015, admitted to conspiracy and mail fraud charges after entering into a cooperation deal with prosecutors. He faces up to 25 years in prison and has agreed to become a government witness.