W.Va. Reaches $161.5M Settlement With Drugmakers Over Opioid Crisis

Attorneys for the state of West Virginia reached a tentative multi-million dollar settlement with two drug companies for their role in the state’s opioid crisis. Following a six week trial in Kanawha Circuit Court, West Virginia settled with Teva and Allergan for $161.5 million. According to Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, that’s the largest opioid settlement to date in state. “We took a lot of risk … Continue reading W.Va. Reaches $161.5M Settlement With Drugmakers Over Opioid Crisis

States: Sackler Family Members Abusing Bankruptcy Process

A federal judge should reject a sweeping settlement to thousands of lawsuits against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, a group of states said at a hearing Tuesday, arguing the protections it extends to members of the Sackler family who own the firm are improper. States have credible claims that family members took more than $10 billion from the company, steered it toward bankruptcy, and then used … Continue reading States: Sackler Family Members Abusing Bankruptcy Process

Jury Finds CVS, Walmart and Walgreens are Responsible for Roles in Opioid Crisis

By The Associated Press CLEVELAND — Three retail pharmacy chains recklessly distributed massive amounts of pain pills in two Ohio counties, a federal jury said Tuesday in a verdict that could set the tone for U.S. city and county governments that want to hold pharmacies accountable for their roles in the opioid crisis. The counties blamed pharmacies operated by CVS, Walgreens and Walmart for not stopping … Continue reading Jury Finds CVS, Walmart and Walgreens are Responsible for Roles in Opioid Crisis

Russell Brand Asks: Why are Drugmakers Who CAUSED the Opioid Crisis in Charge of Solving the Pandemic?

It makes sense, Brand says, that some people have doubts about allowing corporations with a history of prioritizing profits over people to be in charge of solving the pandemic. Russell Brand wants you to know that the transnational global mega-companies creating vaccines for COVID-19 are the same drugmakers responsible for the opioid crisis that has killed more people than COVID. In his latest video, Brand cites a Feb. 3 study … Continue reading Russell Brand Asks: Why are Drugmakers Who CAUSED the Opioid Crisis in Charge of Solving the Pandemic?

US Sues Walmart Alleging Role in Fueling the Opioid Crisis

Lawsuit claims the retail giant inadequately screened for questionable prescriptions. he Trump administration sued Walmart Inc. WMT -1.36% Tuesday, accusing the retail giant of helping to fuel the nation’s opioid crisis by inadequately screening for questionable prescriptions despite repeated warnings from its own pharmacists. The Justice Department’s lawsuit claims that Walmart sought to boost profits by understaffing its pharmacies and pressuring employees to fill prescriptions quickly. That made it difficult … Continue reading US Sues Walmart Alleging Role in Fueling the Opioid Crisis

💊🎄This Holiday Season, Talk to Your Young Adult about the #1 U.S. Health Crisis: Opioids

I don’t need to tell parents with young adults that the holiday season will be here before we know it. That would not be considered breaking news. However, I do have an important message that I hope will help you and your family enjoy time together this holiday season and for years to come: The holidays provide an excellent opportunity to talk to your young … Continue reading 💊🎄This Holiday Season, Talk to Your Young Adult about the #1 U.S. Health Crisis: Opioids

Addicted: America’s Opioid Crisis

An article by Dr. Joseph Mercola Story at-a-glance 1 child in 8 lives with a parent who suffers from a substance abuse disorder in America, and every 15 minutes, a baby in America is born suffering from opioid withdrawal Prescription opioid use is a significant risk factor for subsequent heroin use; 1 in 3 people who misused opioids during their high school years ended up … Continue reading Addicted: America’s Opioid Crisis

There is an Epidemic Raging Within the Pandemic. It’s the Opioid Addiction.

We need to do something immediately, or we are going to lose more Americans to drugs, alcohol, and suicide because of the added burden of COVID-19. Craig Hettlinger explains that he started drinking when he was about 16 years old. He escalated to stronger drugs three years later when he played Division I soccer at Marshall University. He started every game for a team that … Continue reading There is an Epidemic Raging Within the Pandemic. It’s the Opioid Addiction.

MONTANA SUES DRUG DISTRIBUTORS OVER OPIOID SHIPMENTS

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana has filed a lawsuit against the two leading drug distributors in the state, saying they failed to monitor and report excessive opioid shipments to Montana pharmacies, worsening the opioid epidemic. Attorney General Tim Fox announced Monday the state was suing McKesson Corporation and Cardinal Health Inc., alleging they breached their legal duties under Montana’s Controlled Substances Act. The state is … Continue reading MONTANA SUES DRUG DISTRIBUTORS OVER OPIOID SHIPMENTS

‘ALARMING’ Number of People Received Restricted Fentanyl, study says

An “alarming” number of US patients received a highly potent form of opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and that they never should have been prescribed, according to a new study.The research, published Tuesday in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the US Food and Drug Administration and opioid manufacturers failed at multiple levels to adequately monitor the restricted … Continue reading ‘ALARMING’ Number of People Received Restricted Fentanyl, study says

DOCTORS ARE TAKING AWAY OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS FROM A GROWING NUMBER OF PATIENTS, REPORT SHOWS

et another study indicates that patients are being tapered off prescription painkillers at “rapid” rates that surpass federal guidelines. Among more than 100,000 patients enrolled in both commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage programs, researchers found that the annual percentage undergoing tapering doubled between 2008 and 2017. In response to the opioid crisis, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a tapering guideline in … Continue reading DOCTORS ARE TAKING AWAY OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS FROM A GROWING NUMBER OF PATIENTS, REPORT SHOWS

Virginia Doctor Faces Life in Prison for Prescribing Thousands of Opioid Doses

By the time drug enforcement agents swooped into his small medical office in Martinsville, Virginia, in 2017, Dr. Joel Smithers had prescribed about a half a million doses of highly addictive opioids in two years. Patients from five states drove hundreds of miles to see him, spending up to 16 hours on the road to get prescriptions for oxycodone and other powerful painkillers. “He’s done … Continue reading Virginia Doctor Faces Life in Prison for Prescribing Thousands of Opioid Doses

Legal Eagle Goes After Opioid Wholesale Distributors

Story at-a-glance While the opioid crisis has received a significant amount of attention, and strategies have been put into place to try to curb the epidemic of overuse and misuse, few of the responsible parties have been held to account One West Virginia attorney has sued opioid wholesale distributors using a state nuisance statute. Distributors should have reported suspicious activity, yet didn’t. Farrell charges that … Continue reading Legal Eagle Goes After Opioid Wholesale Distributors

The Basic Bare Bones Facts About Opioids & Abuse – From the CDC

Prescription Opioids Side Effects In addition to the serious risks of addiction, abuse, and overdose, the use of prescription opioids can have a number of side effects, even when taken as directed: Tolerance—meaning you might need to take more of the medication for the same pain relief Physical dependence—meaning you have symptoms of withdrawal when the medication is stopped Increased sensitivity to pain Constipation Nausea, … Continue reading The Basic Bare Bones Facts About Opioids & Abuse – From the CDC

‘CRISIS’: Surge in Cocaine Mixed with Fentanyl has Communities and Law Enforcement on Edge

FACT:  Before you read the article below, I want to tell you that Fentanyl deaths have increased 100% (one thousand percent) over 6 years!  ◊NationalAddictionNews.com The fear was the worst part for Ryan Fowler. The New Hampshire native spent 10 years addicted to heroin, which has been increasingly mixed with the synthetic opioid fentanyl to boost its potency. “I was full of a lot of … Continue reading ‘CRISIS’: Surge in Cocaine Mixed with Fentanyl has Communities and Law Enforcement on Edge

Opioid Big Pharma Giant Ordered to Pay $225 Million DOLLARS After Being Caught BRIBING DOCTORS to PRESCRIBE MORE DEADLY FENTANYL PILLS TO PATIENTS!

Insys Therapeutics of Chandler, Arizona, is reportedly having to fork out $225 million in fines to the federal government for bribing doctors to prescribe as much fentanyl and other opiates as they could get away with – including to patients who didn’t even need them. Described as the “driving force” behind America’s ongoing opioid epidemic, the shady “distribution scheme” hatched by Insys involved contracting with doctors to … Continue reading Opioid Big Pharma Giant Ordered to Pay $225 Million DOLLARS After Being Caught BRIBING DOCTORS to PRESCRIBE MORE DEADLY FENTANYL PILLS TO PATIENTS!

Cold Weather Increases the Risk of Fatal Opioid Overdoses

A new study finds that cold weather snaps are followed by a marked increase in fatal opioid overdoses. A research team led by Brandon Marshall, an associate professor of epidemiology at Brown University’s School of Public Health, found a 25 percent increase in fatal opioid overdoses after periods of freezing temperatures compared to days with an average temperature of 52 degrees. And while the researchers continue to … Continue reading Cold Weather Increases the Risk of Fatal Opioid Overdoses

Big Pharma bust: Largest opioid arrest in U.S. history ensnares dozens of physicians, pharmacists who created addicts

In yet another sign that our healthcare system is fraught with problems that Democrats have made worse and not enough Republicans see fit to address, federal prosecutors have charged dozens of pharmacists and doctors in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Alabama for illegally distributing opioids — even as an opioid epidemic sweeps the country. According to the  Cincinnati Inquirer, prosecutors have charged 60 pharmacists and … Continue reading Big Pharma bust: Largest opioid arrest in U.S. history ensnares dozens of physicians, pharmacists who created addicts

Drug Addiction Documentary! Language & Video Feed NOT Suitable for Children, Extremely Graphic, but you need to watch it.

Normally, I would never post a video like this due to it’s graphic nature; however, it tells the story, so forgive me please.  If this brings awareness or shock to get help, it’s worth it.  I feel that you need to see this because it is the literal face of addiction. Shock has value. Please get help today if you are in bondage to drugs … Continue reading Drug Addiction Documentary! Language & Video Feed NOT Suitable for Children, Extremely Graphic, but you need to watch it.

Mom Accused of Doing Drugs, Passing Out in Front of Kids in McDonald’s Bathroom

CHARLESTON, W.Va.—Authorities say a West Virginia mom who passed out in a McDonald’s bathroom after doing drugs in front of her kids has been charged with child neglect. 32-year-old Sarah Parker is facing charges of child neglect resulting in injury after the incident on Saturday. The station cites police and says Parker snorted the drugs through her nose before losing consciousness. Police say her 2- … Continue reading Mom Accused of Doing Drugs, Passing Out in Front of Kids in McDonald’s Bathroom

Ex-Purdue Pharma CEO Richard Sackler Called Opioid Addicts ‘Scum,’ ‘Criminals’ in Emails

The man whose company makes Oxycontin once referred to people addicted to his product as “scum of the earth,” “criminals” and victimizers. Opioid maker Purdue Pharma is being sued by a number of states — and has already settled with several for record amounts — for its role in the ongoing opioid epidemic facing the U.S. that has led to thousands of deaths in recent years.   … Continue reading Ex-Purdue Pharma CEO Richard Sackler Called Opioid Addicts ‘Scum,’ ‘Criminals’ in Emails

Tomorrow is the DEA National TAKE BACK Day – Dispose of Your DANGEROUS Medications properly and safely. Get them OUT of your home!

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent … Continue reading Tomorrow is the DEA National TAKE BACK Day – Dispose of Your DANGEROUS Medications properly and safely. Get them OUT of your home!

FOR The FIRST TIME, Former Big Pharma CEO ARRESTED For Conspiracy For Fostering Opioid Crisis

From the Sackler family — who has made billions from selling opioids to the masses — to the doctors arrested for pushing their pills on unwilling Americans, lawsuits and charges in the opioid crisis abound. However, the companies responsible for distribution of these drugs have largely gone on unscathed, until now. In a first in the government’s battle against the opioid crisis, the former CEO … Continue reading FOR The FIRST TIME, Former Big Pharma CEO ARRESTED For Conspiracy For Fostering Opioid Crisis

60 People Charged (Including a Doctor) in Illegal Prescription Opioid Crackdown

Federal take-down includes suspects in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. Federal authorities said Wednesday they have charged 60 people, including a doctor accused of trading drugs for sex and another of prescribing to his Facebook friends, for their roles in illegally prescribing and distributing millions of pills containing opioids and other drugs. U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman of Cincinnati described the action, … Continue reading 60 People Charged (Including a Doctor) in Illegal Prescription Opioid Crackdown

The Billionaire Family Behind OxyContin is Finally Having its Moment of Reckoning

More than 500 cities, counties, and Native American tribes across the country filed a class action lawsuit Monday that argues the billionaire family behind Purdue Pharma “initiated and perpetuated” an entire generation of opioid users for their own financial gain by marketing their drug, OxyContin, as safe to prescribe. The nearly 200-page lawsuit — which devotes 11 pages to listing the places suing — names … Continue reading The Billionaire Family Behind OxyContin is Finally Having its Moment of Reckoning

Addicts Are Hurting Their Pets to Get Access to Opioids

Addiction take your God given personality away from you and turns you into a monster… even a monster who would harm your own beloved pets in order to get drugs!  It doesn’t get much lower than that.  Perhaps today will be the day that you choose detox and get better! ~NationalAddictionNews.com People are hurting their pets in order to get their hands on opioids prescribed by … Continue reading Addicts Are Hurting Their Pets to Get Access to Opioids

Meet the ‘Hillbilly Lawyer’ Fighting to Take Down Big Pharma

Inside the massive lawsuit that seeks to assign blame — and financial penalties — for the opioid epidemic. Paul Farrell paced the courtroom as lawyers filed into place: plaintiffs on the left, defendants to the right, briefcases down, folders out. Outside the chambers, Lake Erie glistened through the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the marble hallway of the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Farrell, who has silver hair … Continue reading Meet the ‘Hillbilly Lawyer’ Fighting to Take Down Big Pharma

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT IS NOW KILLING OVER 60,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR AND RISING?

Who is to blame for the opioid epidemic that is currently gripping the nation and taking the lives of 60,000 Americans each year? Most people tend to blame the makers of these drugs, the doctors who prescribe them, and some even fault those who take these medications. However, now a very familiar name has been exposed as being the mastermind behind the opioid epidemic: Johnson & … Continue reading WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT IS NOW KILLING OVER 60,000 PEOPLE PER YEAR AND RISING?

Fighting drugs with drugs – what could go possibly go wrong? Opioid overdose antidote now sold over the counter

Overdose antidotes, now being sold without prescription, may turn out to be more harmful than people realize. With more than 8,000 pharmacies across the U.S., Walgreens will soon be carrying an overdose antidote. This concoction will be sold to anyone without the need for prescription or indication from a medical professional. The drug, Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride), claims to be a solution for opioid addiction. It is estimated that more … Continue reading Fighting drugs with drugs – what could go possibly go wrong? Opioid overdose antidote now sold over the counter

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OPIOID ADDICTION

Many people use opioids to treat chronic pain. However, when they overuse the drugs, they can become addicted to it. But it is not always easy to tell if someone you know has an addiction to opioids. Recently, researchers from the University of Michigan suggest 11 signs of opioid addiction everyone should know: Taking a substance in larger amounts or longer than needed Prescription painkillers … Continue reading WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OPIOID ADDICTION

Kansas Doctor Gets Life in Prison for Selling Opioids that Led to Patient’s Death

Let this sound an alarm to all of you MONSTER DOCTORS who use the trust that your patients have in you to addict and kill them for the sake of GREED!  ~NationalAddictionNew.com Steven R. Henson was sentenced to life in prison for unlawfully prescribing and selling medication. A doctor in Kansas was sentenced to life in prison Friday for distributing prescription drugs that resulted in … Continue reading Kansas Doctor Gets Life in Prison for Selling Opioids that Led to Patient’s Death

Tracking heroin: How the deadly drug gets from Mexico to NYC

According to the DEA, Mexico produced some 111 metric tons of heroin in 2017 — 90 percent of which ended up in the US. And the Big ­Apple is feeling it. In New York City, during 2017, there were 771 fatal overdoses attributed to the drug, up from 561 two years earlier. Nationally in 2017, 580 new heroin addicts were minted each day, helping to … Continue reading Tracking heroin: How the deadly drug gets from Mexico to NYC