Over the last few years, several American states have filed lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies for the unlawful and immoral methods of selling opioid pain medications. Colorado has long since been one of the states taking action against Big Pharma, with its targets set specifically on Purdue, the company who created Oxycontin. In a recent turn of events, the state of Colorado has amended and added to their ongoing lawsuit against Purdue Pharmaceuticals, adding more allegations and defendants. As of now, the lawsuit remains private under a confidentiality agreement, but Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is working to make it available to the public. The Opioid Epidemic in Colorado As with just about every other American state, the opioid epidemic has been a silent killer, taking hundreds of thousands of lives over the last decade. For a large majority of that time, it went undiscussed. People often blamed those that were addicted, for moral weakness or a product of their environment. Once “white collar” Americans, soccer moms, and the elderly started coming forward about their unwilling and accidental decline into opioid addiction, people started to take notice. Inpatient treatment also became an absolute necessity for many new people. Over the last ten years, over 5000 Coloradans have died at the hands of the opioid epidemic. Records have shown that deaths of pregnant women have increased due to opioid addiction over the last few years, yet the state is ill-equipped to house and rehabilitate pregnant women and mothers with addiction. The goal of Colorado’s lawsuit against Purdue is not just to make a statement, but to open more substance abuse and...
America has long since been known to be one of the world’s leaders in the healthcare industry. Despite the insane costs of healthcare and health insurance, we are known to be a country that fuels innovation, finds new answers, and saves lives. Birth rates in the US have long been backed by healthy statistics and positive life expectancies. That is, until the last few years. Over the last decade, the number of deaths of pregnant or new mothers has begun to rise in the state of Colorado, as well as several other US states. Among the leading culprits of this upswing in maternal death rates, suicide and overdose have quickly climbed to the top of the list. The question is, where did this come from, and who is working to stop it? The Rise It seems strange that this topic isn’t receiving more attention, but has become somewhat of a subset of the opioid and mental health epidemic that is currently ravaging Americans. Strictly speaking about mental health and substance abuse rates, It has become very clear that America is one of the most medicated populations in the world. Data indicates that around half of the population takes at least one prescription drug every day. Many of these drugs revolve around managing mood or mental disorders, but many of them can have the power to lead to addiction. Some of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S. are: Depression Anxiety Insomnia Disordered Eating Bipolar Attention Deficit Among this population, is hundreds of thousands of pregnant women. Women who struggle with addiction, or who experience postpartum depression just like...
What would this country look like if people struggling with addiction were not arrested for it? It is understandable, from an outsider's perspective, that people using and selling drugs should be punished for their drug-possession. Yet, those of us who have been through it and have come out the other side can attest to the fact that we had literally lost all control and most rational thought. A group of lawmakers in Colorado understands that reality. By introducing a bill throughout the state that would lessen the sentences on people arrested for drug possession, they hope to stop the cycle of incarcerating drug addicts and encouraging treatment instead. The Bill HB19-1263 is some Colorado lawmakers bill at an attempt to help more locals suffering from drug addiction. The bill would defelonize the possession of all Schedule I and II drugs throughout the state. This would include small amounts of heroin, fentanyl, acid, and cocaine. The term “defelonize” does not mean that any individual found to be in possession of these drugs would not still be eligible for jail time, but it does mean that the person would not be permanently followed by a felony charge. First timers who are arrested for drug-possession with these Schedule I or II drugs would still have to appear in court and be sentenced by a judge, and they will still most likely 180 days in jail and be expected to perform some sort of community service. The Goal The War on Drugs was officially called into effect almost 50 years ago, and according to Democratic Rep Leslie Herod of Denver, it was an effort...
When it comes to the Opioid debate, there are a lot of different sides and a lot of different perspectives on tackling the epidemic facing our country. Over the last year, more than a dozen U.S. states have filed lawsuits against Big Pharma companies for false advertisement and damages and now Colorado’s next Attorney General will be “inheriting” this lawsuit. The big question on Colorado’s mind is how each of these candidates plans to face this lawsuit and protect the state and its citizens. The Lawsuit Filed this year by current Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, the lawsuit was aimed directly at Purdue pharmaceuticals, the creators of Oxycontin, for alleged “fraudulent and deceptive marketing of prescription opioids.” According to Coffman, “Their corporate focus on making money took precedence over patients’ long-term health, and Colorado has been paying the price in loss of life and devastation of its communities as they struggle to address the ongoing opioid crisis.” Colorado is just another state on the list of states that are currently filing lawsuits against big pharma companies for the same actions. Across the country, state and local governments are demanding reimbursements for the devastating financial and social toll that opioids have caused. Over 1,000 deaths from drug overdose occurred in Colorado in 2017 - 558 of them were from opioids alone In 2016, 912 people died, with 300 from opioid overdose alone Over 40 states are currently investigating or taking legal action against opioid manufacturers A council of White House Economic Advisors estimates the opioid epidemic has already cost the nation over $504 billion in losses Nationwide, over 11.8 million Americans misused...
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...
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...
Approximately two million people in the country are addicted to prescription opioids such as fentanyl, oxycodone, Vicodin, and Percocet, making it imperative for those in power to find ways to decrease the prevalence of this kind of substance use disorder. With that in mind, politicians on both sides of the aisle have put in motion several different bills regarding today’s opioid crisis. Right before July 4th, the House spent about two weeks combing through bills that address the ever-growing opioid epidemic in the United States. A complete package of bills is expected to be finished any day now, however many professionals and experts do not feel that the final product is really going to have any large-scale impact on the opioid crisis. There are a handful of main points outlined in the new House bill, and they include the following: Supporting Evidence-Based Treatment Countless substance abuse treatment facilities provide evidence-based treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-Step facilitation therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy. And while these treatments are viewed as necessities to most, some treatment centers do not provide them. Through the new House bill, all treatment programs that receive funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must only provide evidence-based treatment modalities. This will save some funding that can then be utilized to provide more addiction medications that can be used in medication-assisted therapy, as studies show that the combination of both medication and evidence-based treatments is the most effective form of addiction treatment. Putting an End to the IMD Exclusion The IMD (which stands for institutions for mental diseases) exclusion, is a restriction that...
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared an opioid epidemic in the United States. However, opioid abuse was occurring prior to that announcement, and has increased in popularity ever since. Currently, 2.1 million people are addicted to opioids including prescription painkillers. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 948,000 people abused heroin and 11.5 million abused prescription opioids in 2016. HHS also reports that an additional 2 million people abused prescription opioids for the first time within that same year. Also, 116 people died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses in 2016. In an effort to combat the growing opioid epidemic in the United States, a new bill has hit the floor requesting that Colorado have the freedom to develop supervised injection facilities within the state. Through these injection facilities (or “overdose prevention sites” are they are officially called), the hope remains that individuals can utilize clean needles in a clean environment, which will decrease the presence of blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis. Also, these facilities will also be able to provide access to counseling services and treatment options for those who visit the site. Controversy over the development of injection sites has been occurring since the 1980’s when these facilities were first introduced to the public. However, now that the opioid epidemic has reached an all-time high, opinions are flying both freely and strongly. Seeking a Solution On one side of the line, there is a great sense of urgency to implement injection sites into cities where opioid abuse is occurring at a rapid rate. However, those on the other side...
A Colorado county recently sued the nation’s pharmaceutical companies and distributors, blaming them for the states’ growing drug crisis. Huerfano County filed the suit claiming the companies are responsible for the ongoing Colorado opioid epidemic. Located in the southern part of the state, the county’s lawsuit is the first of its kind filed by local government. According to a recent article published in The Denver Post, the lawsuit claims that residents in Huerfano County were falsely induced to take highly addictive opioids for pain management purposes. Additionally, the lawsuit claims the Colorado opioid epidemic was caused by drug manufacturers engaging in fraudulent and deceptive marketing as well as distributors who brought large amounts of opioids into the marketplace. Major Steps in Fighting Opioid Addiction in Colorado While the county’s lawsuit is a first in the state of Colorado, Huerfano County has joined a nationwide legal movement aiming to stop the opioid epidemic. In January, Philadelphia and the state of Delaware filed similar lawsuits. In New York City, mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that the city is suing drug companies to hold them responsible for the ongoing drug crisis. Additionally, the city of Chicago filed a case again pharmaceutical companies in 2014 and remains active. The claim filed on behalf of Huerfano County was filed lawyers Stephen Ochs and Patrick Mika, along with San Francisco-based attorneys Steven Skikos and Mark Crawford. The county’s lawsuit seeks class-action status against pharmaceutical companies and distributors they feel who are responsible for Colorado’s opioid crisis. The companies mentioned in the lawsuit including McKesson Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Purdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceuticals...
It might seem extreme to some, but many countries have been considering decriminalizing drug use. The reason being is that people who receive treatment opposed to punishment are less likely to re-offend, commit a crime, and cost public more money. In Norway, the Parliament just passed a plan to decriminalize drugs. Yes, that means all drugs, even heroin, meth, crack, you name it. As long as the person is caught with small quantities, they will not face criminal punishment such as fines or imprisonment. Norway plans to have a system similar to Portugal, who has already decriminalized drug use and is seeing positive result Transform Drug Policy Foundation s. The Norwegian government wants to be clear that they are not legalizing drugs. People would not be able to freely sell drugs in public, this would still be illegal and could result in imprisonment. It’s the average drug user who would benefit. A person caught with drugs would be offered avenues for help, such as detox, therapy, and addiction treatment. The country wants to end the stigma of drug use being classified as a crime and change the conversation around drugs as a whole. They want to classify and treat drug use as an illness. Around the world, including the United States, jails and prisons have almost 0 effects on people trying to get clean from drugs. Jails and prisons are often filled with drugs and offer very little treatment options. Many offenders also have co-occurring mental health conditions that also get ignored. Norway wants to make an example of the world and show that treating addiction as a disease is...
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