Inside The Battle To Bring Down The Opioid Industry

American Cartel: Inside the Battle to Bring Down the Opioid Industry

by Scott Higham

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14989 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	416 pages

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The opioid epidemic has ravaged communities across the United States, and the pharmaceutical industry has been at the center of the crisis. Now, a group of lawyers is fighting to hold the industry accountable.

The litigation against the opioid industry is complex and far-reaching. It involves dozens of lawsuits filed by states, cities, and counties across the country. The plaintiffs allege that the industry misled doctors and patients about the risks of opioids, and that it engaged in deceptive marketing practices that fueled the epidemic.

One of the most important lawsuits in the opioid litigation is the one filed by the state of Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges that Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, engaged in a "scheme of deception" that led to the state's opioid crisis. The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages to help Oklahoma recover from the crisis.

The opioid litigation is still in its early stages, but it has already had a significant impact on the industry. Purdue Pharma has filed for bankruptcy, and the Sackler family, which owns the company, has agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements. Other opioid manufacturers, such as Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceuticals, are also facing lawsuits.

The opioid litigation is a major step forward in the fight against the opioid epidemic. It is sending a message to the pharmaceutical industry that it will be held accountable for its role in the crisis. The litigation is also providing much-needed resources to communities that have been devastated by the epidemic.

The Opioid Epidemic

The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, and two-thirds of those deaths involved opioids. The epidemic has been particularly devastating in rural areas, where overdose deaths have been increasing at a faster rate than in urban areas.

The opioid epidemic is driven by a number of factors, including the overprescription of opioids by doctors, the rise of fentanyl, and the lack of access to addiction treatment. The overprescription of opioids began in the late 1990s, when pharmaceutical companies began marketing opioids as safe and effective for a wide range of pain conditions. Doctors were encouraged to prescribe opioids for everything from back pain to headaches. As a result, the number of opioid prescriptions dispensed in the United States quadrupled between 1999 and 2010.

The rise of fentanyl has also contributed to the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is often mixed with heroin or other drugs, and it can be deadly even in small doses. Fentanyl has been responsible for a significant increase in overdose deaths in recent years.

The lack of access to addiction treatment is another major factor in the opioid epidemic. Many people who are addicted to opioids do not have access to the treatment they need. This is due to a number of factors, including the high cost of treatment, the lack of insurance coverage, and the stigma associated with addiction.

The Pharmaceutical Industry's Role in the Opioid Epidemic

The pharmaceutical industry has played a major role in the opioid epidemic. Pharmaceutical companies have marketed opioids as safe and effective for a wide range of pain conditions, even though they knew that opioids were addictive and could lead to overdose deaths. Pharmaceutical companies have also paid doctors to prescribe opioids, and they have lobbied against efforts to regulate opioids.

One of the most egregious examples of the pharmaceutical industry's role in the opioid epidemic is the case of Purdue Pharma. Purdue Pharma is the maker of OxyContin, which is one of the most widely prescribed opioids in the United States. Purdue Pharma knew that OxyContin was addictive and could lead to overdose deaths, but it marketed the drug as safe and effective. Purdue Pharma also paid doctors to prescribe OxyContin, and it lobbied against efforts to regulate opioids.

Purdue Pharma's actions have contributed to the opioid epidemic in a major way. The company's deceptive marketing practices led to the overprescription of opioids, and its lobbying efforts prevented the government from taking action to regulate opioids. Purdue Pharma's actions have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

The Litigation Against the Opioid Industry

The litigation against the opioid industry is a major step forward in the fight against the opioid epidemic. It is sending a message to the pharmaceutical industry that it will be held accountable for its role in the crisis. The litigation is also providing much-needed resources to communities that have been devastated by the epidemic.

The opioid litigation is still in its early stages, but it has already had a significant impact on the industry. Purdue Pharma has filed for bankruptcy, and the Sackler family, which owns the company, has agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements. Other opioid manufacturers, such as Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceuticals, are also facing lawsuits.

The opioid litigation is a complex and far-reaching process. It will take years to resolve, and it is likely to have a major impact on the pharmaceutical industry and the opioid epidemic.

The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. The pharmaceutical industry has played a major role in the epidemic, and it is now facing a reckoning in court. The litigation against the opioid industry is a major step forward in the fight against the epidemic, and it is sending a message to the pharmaceutical industry that it will be held accountable for its actions.

The opioid litigation is still in its early stages, but it has already had a significant impact on the industry. Purdue Pharma has filed for bankruptcy, and the Sackler family has agreed to pay billions of dollars in settlements. Other opioid manufacturers are also facing lawsuits, and it is likely that the litigation will continue to have a major impact on the industry in the years to come.

American Cartel: Inside the Battle to Bring Down the Opioid Industry

by Scott Higham

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	14989 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	416 pages

FREE