Since the explosion of the Opioid Epidemic and last November’s announcement that it was a National Health Emergency, local, state, and nationwide lawmakers have been investigating and implementing plans to help cut down on the amount of opioid pills prescribed and overdose deaths. Many states have even taken to legal matters and have begun writing up lawsuits aimed at major pharmaceutical companies, with the intent to get back some portion of the financial reparations they have lost as a result of the opioid epidemic. States such as California, Colorado, New York, Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee, New Mexico, and Arizona have all started to compile lawsuits aimed at multiple pharmaceutical companies, and even more counties within those states are filing their own. On the home front, and in states such as Colorado, specifically, Senator Cory Gardner is taking even more steps to ensure the safety of his community. As of July of this year, Senator Gardner announced that Colorado would officially be working with the DEA to slow and monitor the amount of prescription medications that are coming into the state as a major effort to reduce the opioid crisis. The Clearinghouse Act As it now stands, there is no law enforcement agency or private party that has the capability to oversee a nationwide investigation of controlled medications that are prescribed to US citizens. As an effort to begin the process and find a good place to start, the DEA has created what they are calling, “The Clearinghouse Act of 2018”. Colorado is one of the first states that has officially signed up and promoted the act, as it seems, enough is...
A lot of phrases and slogans get thrown around in the rooms of twelve-step programs, and unfortunately, one of the very common ones is “Chronic Relapser”. So what exactly is a chronic relapser? How many relapses does it take to become one, and is there any ever opportunity of staying sober for someone who IS a chronic relapser? I think overall, a chronic relapser is a phrase that people usually identify THEMSELVES as before anyone else does. It’s kind of like being an alcoholic, where no one else can convince us that we are one until we know for ourselves that it’s true. However, discovering that you are an alcoholic leads to the discovery and work of the 12 steps, which gets us sober, so that is actually a good thing, to finally know to yourself you’re an alcoholic or addict. But what about those people, that know in their hearts that they suffer from this obsession of the mind and allergy of the body, but can never seem to stay sober, in spite of their own self-knowledge? What is a Chronic Relapser? It’s as easy as it sounds. A chronic relapser is a person who, despite knowing they need to get sober, finds that they habitually relapse. It is definitely not a badge of honor, but it is something that anyone who has experienced relapse can empathize with. That doesn’t mean that someone who relapses once or twice while trying to get sober is necessarily deemed a chronic relapser, but more so people who relapse again, and again, and again, and again. I heard a woman speak at a...
In the most recent development in State vs. Big Pharma - several counties in Colorado have joined together to file a lawsuit against major opioid prescription manufacturers. The counties banding together are: Larimer, Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Jefferson, and Teller, and other cities getting participating are Aurora, Black Hawk, Commerce City, Northglenn, and the town of Hudson. In an attempt to receive financial reimbursement for a portion of the damages lost through the increased costs associated with the opioid epidemic, these counties are suing big pharmaceutical companies within the next 6 months. Multiple other states have been pressing for legal action against pharmaceutical companies for the same reason, and so far, none of the states have seen their day in court. The Process According to the public information officer for Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, Kelly O’Donnell, the entire process will probably take around 6 months to even get everything ready to file. Each county, city, and town will be acting individually, but the plan of attack is to have all 13 districts to file suit at the same time. That doesn’t mean that the money will just be handed over though. O’Donnell states that it could take upwards of four, even five years for the state to even see any of the money, and that is only IF they win the case. Larimer County has so far been very vocal on their decision to move forward with a legal process, and the County commissioners voted 2-0 in favor of the decision as well. The plan is, that after the lawsuit is officially filed, each county and...
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