A landmark settlement in the nation’s opioid epidemic is forcing the owners of OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to give up the company and pay out $4.5 billion.
opioids
Judge conditionally approves Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
Under the settlement, the Sackler family will give up ownership of the company and contribute $4.5 billion. But the Sacklers will be shielded from any future lawsuits over opioids.
30 Maine school districts join suit against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma
At least 30 Maine school districts have joined a class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma for damages related to the opioid crisis.
Opioids rip through U.S. workforce, with deaths at record level
Opioids are behind about three-fourths of the overdoses, according to Wednesday’s data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Medical cannabis studies ramp up, offering hope to some opioid users
Some researchers believe cannabis can help wean prescription opioid users off the addictive and potentially deadly drugs. Others aren’t so sure.
Justice Department suing Walmart, alleges company helped fuel opioid crisis
The suit alleges the company unlawfully dispensed controlled substances through its pharmacies.
Health groups propose statewide network of ‘low-barrier’ drug treatment clinics
The pilot proposal, which carries a price tag of $920,000, comes at a time when drug overdose deaths appear to be rising again despite efforts to tackle the problem.
The Maine Millennial: Collins should answer for Pharma donations
Maine’s senior senator is among the many lawmakers who have taken campaign cash from the companies that promoted opioid use.
Commentary: Opioids saved my life. Quitting them took 5 excruciating years.
You don’t have to be addicted to feel withdrawal symptoms and cravings when you stop taking the drugs.
Maine Voices: Our state should embrace overdose prevention sites as the evidence-based step they are
A federal judge recently ruled that they’re not illegal, and data show that they save money, save lives and serve as a bridge into treatment.