Over the past week, several states have settled lawsuits with Opioid drugmakers, distributors, and pharmacies, tallying up over $390 million in total. The states in question (Alabama, New York, West Virginia, and California), have been deeply impacted by the ramifications of the Opioid epidemic, which has led to over 500,000 overdose deaths nationally in the past 2 decades. Among others across the nation, these settlements are the first steps to providing the financial backbone that many states need to rebuild their communities affected by Opioids. 

The companies involved in these recent settlements, all of which have denied any wrongdoing, include Johnson & Johnson, McKesson Corp, Endo International Plc, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson). The next section of this article will break down who each state settled with and for how much. 

State-By-State Breakdown Of Recent Opioid Lawsuits

Alabama

On Tuesday, Alabama reached $276 million in settlements with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson Corp, and Endo International Plc. According to the state attorney general, this settlement resolves the claim that these companies fueled an Opioid crisis in the state. Alabama had previously accused McKesson of failing to prevent the diversion of Opioids for illicit use and for downplaying the addictive risks of the prescription Painkillers. Johnson & Johnson stated that its past marketing efforts were “appropriate and responsible,” and the company no longer sells prescription Opioids in the US. 

Alabama was one of 4 states that declined to join a nationwide $26 billion settlement of Opioid litigation by McKesson, two other top US distributors, and Johnson & Johnson. If it had agreed to the national settlement, the state would have received $115 million from McKesson over 18 years and $70.3 million from Johnson & Johnson over 9 years. Under this new deal, McKesson will pay $141 million within 9 years, Johnson & Johnson will make full payment within a year, and Endo will pay $25 million. 

New York

On Tuesday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced that Central New York would receive over $6.3 million from several settlements negotiated in 2019. The settlements involved 6 Opioid manufacturers and 4 distributors, and the funds will be distributed to Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse, $3.7 million and $263,000, respectively. The money received from this settlement is only a part of the original $1.5 billion settlement finalized by the attorney general, who says more money will be coming.

Central New York City was impacted significantly by the Opioid crisis, specifically during the 2020 lockdown. Onondaga County paused most in-person activities related to Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, and a 7th of the economy was forced to shut down, which placed working individuals on the sidelines, said Onondaga County Executive McMahon. 

West Virginia

West Virginia is to receive $99 million in a settlement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. In this Opioid lawsuit, Janssen was accused of overstating the benefits of their prescription drugs while downplaying, or failing to mention entirely, the potential risks of addiction. The drugmaker has faced multiple Opioid lawsuits throughout dozens of communities in the country, but State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said during a news briefing that he believes West Virginia’s settlement is the largest in the country per capita. 

West Virginia has long held alarming rates of drug overdose deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the state’s number of fatal overdoses has nearly tripled over the past decade. Additionally, the state has one of the highest rates of non-medical use of prescription Painkillers in 19 to 25-year-olds, with experts testifying in the Janssen case that the rush of prescription Opioids into communities was the driving force behind West Virginia’s drug crisis.

California

On Wednesday, the city of San Francisco reached a $10 million settlement with Endo, who makes the Opioid Painkiller Percocet. According to City Attorney David Chiu, Endo settled with the city days before an upcoming trial, which claims the drugmaker fueled an Opioid epidemic. While Endo hasn’t marketed Percocet since 2016, a 2018 lawsuit filed by San Francisco claims that the company “flooded” the community with prescription Opioids without corrective measures to prevent the drugs from being diverted to illegal use.  

Along with the Endo company, the lawsuit filed by San Francisco also targeted Purdue Pharma LP, Johnson & Johnson, McKesson Corp, Cardinal Health Inc, and AmerisourceBergen Corp. To date, Endo has agreed to pay over $300 million in Opioid settlements to local and state governments, including San Francisco. 

Settlement Money To Be Used For Recovery And Prevention

The funds from these settlements provide financial support for states and cities to rebuild the communities that the Opioid epidemic has deeply impacted. The use of the millions will go well beyond sopping up the damage caused by over-prescription, questionable marketing practices, and illicit use of Opioids; communities hope to stop addiction before it starts. Beyond funding treatment programs for those with an OUD, many communities are planning to use the funds for Opioid prevention and education to reduce the risk of addiction for the youth and individuals throughout the community. 

For example, in Central New York, Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse will use the settlement money to treat individuals with an OUD, to reduce the number of people dying of overdoses, and to give young people additional resources to teach them about the dangers of drugs, specifically Opioids. The settlement money supplied to the states and communities across the US is a necessary step in healing and treating individuals who have suffered at the hands of the Opioid epidemic that has in part been fueled by Opioid drugmakers, distributors, and pharmacies.  

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Over the past 20 years, nearly 500,000 American lives have been lost to the Opioid Epidemic due to prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin and other illicit substances sold on the street. As recently as Monday, April 11, 2022, the popular pharmacy chain Walgreens is being prosecuted by the state of Florida for the “fraud and addiction that the company should have noticed and acted upon.”

Florida’s prosecutor Jim Webster says the company of roughly 9,000 storefronts, 820 of which located in Florida, was knowingly dispensing medications that were actively killing people. Records show that from May of 2006 to June of 2021 in Florida alone, Walgreens distributed approximately 4.3 billion Opioid pills. Between the years 1999-2020, more than 39,000 Florida residents died from Opioid use. According to Webster, 1 in 4 of these cases was traced to Walgreens’ sale and suspicious circumstances: fake prescriptions, questionable physicians, and unnecessary amounts of pills for any singular patient.

Walgreens’ attorney, Steve Derringer, claims that the real issue lies with the pharmaceutical companies not being entirely forthright and truthful about the addictiveness of Opioids, not that of the individual pharmacy chains like Walgreens.

Walgreens Is The Last To Budge

This is hardly the first lawsuit regarding Opioids and the pharmacies responsible for distributing them in Florida. So far, the state has reached nearly $878 million dollars in settlements: CVS Health Corp agreed to pay the highest so far at $484 million, with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd next at $195 million, and Allergan PLC paying upwards of $134 million. This case follows that of the nationwide deal where Purdue Pharma’s owners, the Sackler family, agreed to pay $6 billion in settlements. Considering the estimated total cost of both civil and criminal penalties tied to OxyContin’s parent company since 2007 is roughly $45 billion, the contributions from the family responsible hardly makes a dent in the national deficit. Florida alone has spent nearly $14 billion over the last two decades in various Opioid-related costs, from criminal justice and drug rehabilitation reform to saving infants born with an Opioid addiction.

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Taking place in New Port Richey, Florida, just north of Tampa, the trial is slated to last anywhere from 3-8 weeks. Walgreens, the largest pharmacy chain in the country, is the last stake in this multi-pronged Opioid prosecution campaign. In the opening statement on Monday, Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody said her department wants the store chain to be held responsible “for its role in helping create and fuel the deadly Opioid crisis devastating Florida families and draining taxpayer-funded resources.”

Following the relative success of the settlements with other big pharmacy brands, Webster, in his opening remarks claims:

Walgreens was the last line of defense in improperly distributing Opioids. The evidence will show that millions of times, Walgreens ignored its duty to investigate suspicious prescriptions. Instead, it filled them as quickly as possible.

Who Is Really Responsible?

Due to the number of players and stakeholders and general scope of the Opioid Epidemic, it is tough to determine who and what deserves the largest number of pointed fingers. Many families who have lost loved ones to the addictive power of prescription painkillers blame the Sackler family and their intentional negligence to inform physicians and pharmacies of the inherent danger in medications such as OxyContin. Others point to the drug counters across the country and wonder why no one questioned the increasing amount of Opioid prescriptions running through their systems while still others don’t understand how doctors could be so obtrusively unaware of the devastating side effects.

Regardless of the outcome, the issue proceeds. The scariest part of the Opioid crisis is the fact that an addiction can start from a prescribed medication if the individual is not cautious and aware. If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to painkillers, or any other substance, remember you are not alone and there are resources to help you.

As for the judicial trials, only time will tell.

The post Florida Vs Pharmacies: Fueling The Opioid Crisis? appeared first on Addiction Center.

Brittney Griner, two-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time Women’s National Basketball Association All-Star, is being held by Russian authorities after customs officials detected Cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was initially detained while trying to leave the country at Sheremetyevo airport near Moscow back in February on drug charges; however, Russian officials just released the news of Griner’s detainment on Saturday. 

The Russian Federal Customs Service stated that a working dog from the Sheremetyevo Customs canine department located the vape cartridges containing Hash, short for Hashish, oil in Griner’s carry-on luggage. According to the Times, a criminal case has been opened against Griner for “large-scale transportation of drugs.” These charges carry a potential sentencing term of 5 to 10 years. 

What Is Hashish Oil?

Hashish oil, also known as Hash or honey oil, is a concentrated Cannabis extract made from the resin of the buds of the Cannabis plants. This potent form of Cannabis is most commonly sold in cartridges to be used in vape pens, like in Griner’s case, but it can also be ingested, smoked, or rubbed onto the skin. Another common use of Hash oil is “dabbing,” which refers to the use of a special pipe to heat and vaporize Hash oil. 

Hash oil is 4 to 5 times more potent than regular Marijuana and contains a high level of THC, the same psychoactive ingredient as other Marijuana products. Since the processing of Hash oil isn’t standardized, it is unclear how much THC is in any one dose, but it can contain anywhere between 15% to 60% THC. This disparity in the percentage of THC leads to a significant range of side effects. Additional possible physical and mental side effects of Hash oil use include:

• Dry mouth
• Red eyes
• Increased heart rate and appetite
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Memory issues
• Vasodilatation (widening of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure)

Across the US, 18 states allow for the recreational use of Marijuana, and 36 states allow for the drug’s medical use, but Hash oil is not always included in these laws. In the states that have legalized Cannabis oils with low-THC levels, individuals may use Hash oil as medical Marijuana, but it is case by case. In Russia, the recreational or medical use of any form of Marijuana is illegal.

Griner Was In Russia To Play, But Will She Be Able To Leave?

Griner has been playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia for the past 5 off-seasons. The draw to play overseas for many women in the WNBA is the opportunity to make considerably more money than they do on their national teams. For example, the average income of a WNBA player in the US is $130,000; however, in overseas leagues, WNBA players can make up to a million dollars. About 70 WNBA players play with international leagues currently during the off-season, with more than a dozen in Russia and Ukraine. Griner’s detainment over alleged possession of Hash oil places the WNBA player in a dangerous waiting ground amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Russia’s Stance On Drug Policy

What is particularly concerning in Griner’s case relates to Russia’s approach to drug use. In some countries, drug control is underlined with excessive, punitive measures which can undermine public health. In Russia, the country’s policy leans toward the criminalization and punishment of individuals who use drugs or have a substance use disorder (SUD) versus offering support through treatment and harm reduction methods. 

In a case study by BMC, Russia’s official policy toward drug use is described as “social intolerance,” which means that poor treatment of those who use drugs is encouraged and legitimized. Such “poor treatment” of individuals struggling with drug abuse includes denying them access to essential medicines in treating addiction, like Suboxone used in treating Opioid abuse, and implementing treatments such as electroshock therapy and comatose therapy. The lack of evidence-based treatment options for individuals with a SUD in Russia and the harsh stigma around addiction leads to a declining number of individuals seeking medical treatment even as rates of people who use or depend on drugs increase. 

What Happens Next

As the world looks on as the war between Ukraine and Russia continues, a layer of tension surrounds Griner’s arrest as the unrest between Russia and the US grows. There are concerns that the country may be leveraging Griner’s case against the US in response to the Biden administration’s recent sanctions imposed on Russia. On the same day that news broke of Griner’s detainment, the State Department released an updated advisory urging US citizens to leave Russia immediately because of the “potential for harassment against US citizens by Russian government security officials.”

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Johnson & Johnson, alongside 3 major pharmaceutical distributors, have agreed to pay nearly $26 billion to settle thousands of Opioid-related lawsuits on Friday. These lawsuits claimed that their business practices helped fuel and maintain the deadly Opioid epidemic that has claimed over 500,000 American lives since 1999. Of the $26 billion in payouts, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $5 billion, and AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson will pay $6.1 billion, $6 billion, and $7.4 billion, respectively.

Forty-six states and nearly 90% of eligible local governments signed onto the deal, which the drug wholesalers agreed was enough to move forward with a “comprehensive agreement to settle the vast majority of the Opioid lawsuits,” according to their joint statement. By signing the deal, these localities and states have agreed to drop any present Opioid lawsuits against the companies and not pursue any future action against them. During the settlement, none of the companies acknowledged any wrongdoing for manufacturing and distributing large quantities of prescription medication and continue to deny attributing to the Opioid crisis with their aggressive drug marketing throughout the years.

What The Settlement Will Fund

Of the $26 billion, 85% of the payments will go to addiction prevention, treatment, and health care services. These payments will provide thousands of communities across the US with nearly $20 billion over the next 18 years. Examples of what communities can use this money for include creating public education programs, increasing the number of drug counselors and social workers in municipal courts, and paying for addiction treatment medicine used in correctional facilities.

There will be people alive next year because of the programs and services we will be able to fund because of these settlement proceeds.

Currently, there are no separate funds from the settlement dedicated to compensating the individual victims of the Opioid crisis. The hope is that these payments will help rebuild communities devastated by the Opioid crisis and prevent them from being flooded with high-risk medication in the future through newly-funded monitoring systems. The money is issued to start reaching communities in early April and will continue flowing for the next two decades.

Opioids In America

This settlement comes at a troubling point of the Opioid crisis as many who have developed an Opioid use disorder have switched to using Fentanyl, a synthetic Opioid 50 times stronger than Heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 100,000 lives are lost a year to drug overdoses. The Opioid epidemic is not a new phenomenon by any means, and over the past 2 years, the number of annual overdose deaths have spiked by 50%. The introduction of Fentanyl into the illegal drug market, individuals turning to drugs during the pandemic, and a number of treatment facilities shutting their doors contributed to this spike in overdose deaths.

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Many have accused pharmaceutical companies of creating and maintaining America’s Opioid crisis. Looking to expand the use of prescription Painkillers beyond malignant pain, many pharmaceutical companies marketed Opioids as less addictive or non-addictive in comparison to Morphine and with no dangerous side effects. Doctors, convinced of these claims, began prescribing these drugs and saw no repercussions to patients taking them. This growth in the prescribing of Opioids directly pushed the distribution of Opioids to elevated levels today.

Johnson & Johnson’s History With Opioids

The CDC describes 3 waves of the Opioid epidemic, with the first wave beginning in the 1990s as the rate of prescribing Opioids increased exponentially. In 1994, the Johnson & Johnson company created a strain of poppy to be used to manufacture and distribute large amounts of Opioids. The company made this specific strain in anticipation of future demand for Oxycodone which led to its future partnership with Purdue Pharma as their supplier. Johnson & Johnson additionally supplied 60% of all active ingredients for Opioids manufactured and sold in the US for years to come.

For over a decade, Johnson & Johnson ran marketing campaigns that assured all Opioids as safe for everyday pain. Since the company was the largest supplier of Opioid active ingredients, boosting the Opioid market positively impacted business. In 2001, the company continued to market the drugs as having a low risk of abuse and misuse, even after its medical advisory team and the FDA warned against it.

Johnson & Johnson has since stopped selling Opioids and has agreed not to resume. In contrast, the other 3 distribution companies have agreed to provide data to a clearinghouse, or middleman, to track when prescription drugs enter the black market.

What Lawsuits Brought To The Surface

While the 4 companies claim no wrongdoing in their settlement, surrounding lawsuits brought some troubling practices and actions to the public’s attention. One case revealed that drug wholesalers continued to distribute vast amounts of prescription pills to small, rural communities despite the heavy indication that the drugs, like OxyContin, were dispersed and sold across the black market. The amount of prescription medicine flooding these communities was often disproportionate to the local population.

In a separate lawsuit, an email shared between AmerisourceBergen executives revealed the use of language like “pillbillies” and “hillbilly Heroin” to describe those addicted to Opioids and to refer to OxyContin. These lawsuits, and subsequent lawsuits, highlight the questionable actions of these companies at the height of the crisis.

While the $26 billion settlement serves as a much-needed financial boost for communities to fund addiction prevention and treatment services, the damage done by Opioids throughout the nation will take years to mitigate. Opioid-related lawsuits focused on pharmacy chains that sold egregious amounts of prescription pills directly to consumers continue in other state and federal courts.

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On October 5 2021, a young woman named Brittany Poolaw, a member of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes in Oklahoma, was charged with first degree manslaughter and a sentence of 4 years in prison. She had suffered a second-trimester miscarriage. In a fetal autopsy, examiners found a congenital abnormality and a complication with the placenta in addition to traces of Methamphetamine. Whether or not the Meth ultimately caused Poolaw’s miscarriage is decidedly undeterminable and yet, after a year and a half in an overcrowded jail, amidst the ongoing pandemic, she faces more time behind bars for a heartbreaking loss. And she’s not the only one. As Oklahoma Methamphetamine rates rise somewhat steadily, so too do the number of infants born (or lost) to drug exposure. Between 2015 and 2021, the numbers nearly quadrupled and with them, more and more pregnant women are facing incarceration for drug abuse, even in cases where a woman had a medical Marijuana card and/or her baby was born perfectly healthy.

Healthcare Professionals Weigh In

Poolaw’s case has sparked national outcry. Numerous leaders in women’s health such as the March of Dimes organization, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) as well as 37 Oklahoma-based doctors have released numerous letters and statements of outrage all saying the same thing: incarceration for drug abuse in pregnant women, especially in the unfortunate loss of a pregnancy, is not the answer to the variety of underlying issues at stake. Dr. Kate Arnold, an Oklahoma City OBGYN and vice-chair of the Oklahoma chapter of ACOG believes the state is charging these women “supposedly with the hopes that if we can prosecute it [then] it will deter drug use during pregnancy. The problem that we as physicians see is this has actually already been tried in many other states and it does not improve outcomes. In fact, it leads to worse outcomes.”

In a guest column article Arnold wrote for the online publication, The Oklahoman, she expresses the erroneous nature of incarceration for drug abuse with regard to pregnant women’s health, writing:

These misguided policies disproportionately target low-income women and women of Color, and women who represent communities with limited access to medical care, among other factors contributing to worse health outcomes of them and their children. Studies of drug use in pregnancy suggests that other issues—such as poverty, poor diet, and tobacco use—are at least as harmful as drug use itself.

Considering Assistant District Attorney Christine Gailbraith said Poolaw’s case was, “a situation where the defendant put her wants ahead of the baby. She chose Meth over his life,” Dr. Arnold’s claim provides important context; this increasingly common issue is deeper than “wants.”

Outcomes Of Incarcerating Pregnant Women For Drug Abuse

Both state officials and health professionals ultimately wish the same for pregnant women who suffer from varying substance abuse problems: a healthy mom and a healthy baby. The problem, and what doctors are tirelessly working to inform policymakers of, is that by convicting someone who is likely already under immense duress and trauma (especially in the case of a miscarriage) is both detrimental and ineffective. One local news source investigated Poolaw’s case in conjunction with 45 other pregnant women across the state charged with felony child abuse, neglect, or manslaughter in relation with substance use since 2017. While the findings varied dependent upon county, across the board, only 18 received any kind of rehab/treatment for drug abuse as part of their sentence. The statistic appears counterintuitive to some prosecutor’s claim that criminal justice involvement protects children while simultaneously encourages women to seek treatment. For pregnant women, incarceration for drug abuse is not working.

“I wish we could get more education out to assistant district attorneys and judges to better understand substance use and not criminalize individuals that are pregnant for their substance use,” director for the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Teresa Stephenson said. Because of these decisions being made across the state, when a woman who suffers from addiction or abuse gets pregnant, she now must weigh her options as to whether or not to seek medical help and consultation, afraid she might be prosecuted for her addiction. Thus, a vicious cycle ensues in which this woman either gets help and risks incarceration or her baby being taken, or she says nothing, doesn’t receive treatment, and still risks losing her baby and/or her freedom, as well as the ability to find and pursue the help and treatment she needs.

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Reducing The Stigma

Another issue, is that even if women like Poolaw, who suffer from substance use or addiction while pregnant, had the ability or opportunity to receive prenatal care, they might have a hard time finding doctors willing to treat them. Medical director of Substance Use Treatment And Recovery Prenatal Clinic (STARS), Dr. Stephanie Pierce believes there is a much greater need for services that cater to women struggling with drug abuse, but there are not enough providers. “There [are] so many people that have these issues and there’s just traditionally not a lot of OB providers that are really interested or excited about taking care of these patients and I think a lot of that is due to stigma,” she said. Despite the relative lack in OBGYNs, The STARS clinic is doing quite well; between October of 2019 and July of 2021, 91% of infants were discharged to their parents’ care.

“Most of these women really want their babies and want to be able to take care of their babies. I think early intervention is probably the most key thing,” said Paula Griffith, director of Women and Children’s Services at Conmache County Memorial Hospital where Poolaw received care during her miscarriage. In October of last year, Poolaw obtained a new attorney, John Coyle III, after her story made headlines and national news, who said that hers is “a sad case and an assault on women’s rights.” A local news source reached out to prosecuting district attorney for Poolaw’s case, Kyle Cabelka, for comment; he declined.

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Formerly one of a small handful of holdout states, Nevada has now joined 42 other states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia in backing a $26 billion settlement that would resolve over 3,000 lawsuits pointed at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and 3 corporate drug distributors over their culpability in the Opioid epidemic.

The deadline to join the settlement, once January 2, was extended to January 26 after negotiations between lawyers for plaintiffs on one hand and the 3 drug distributors involved on the other (McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp, and Cardinal Health Inc). According to Reuters, “lawyers who negotiated the deal…called the three-week extension a positive development that would allow some holdout states and their local governments to sign on.”

Reporting from the same source indicates that more states and/or municipalities may soon sign on as well; a significant portion of the settlement funds, $10.7 billion, are contingent upon local governments backing the settlement and giving up any lawsuits they may have pending against the companies named in the suit — as well as disallowing any more suits of that kind in the future.

Aaron Ford, Nevada Attorney General, said that, “There is no question that the opioid epidemic has devastated Nevada and money is needed now to address comprehensive statewide remediation.” AG Ford also expressed his belief that Nevada localities would sign on before the deadline, and he said that the state could receive over $285 million.

As for J&J and the 3 distributors, none of the entities have admitted wrongdoing; they may soon pay a hefty sum to the victims and families and neighbors of victims of Opioids, however — what’s more, there’s now a major lawsuit that concerns J&J and allegations of funding terror. It was once dismissed, but now Americans may get to see the outcome; the case itself could be seen as part of a larger pattern of immoral and destructive behavior in the name of profit on the part of J&J.

Old J&J Lawsuit Comes Back To Life

On January 4, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit revived a lawsuit against J&J (and other corporate entities, like AstraZeneca Plc and Pfizer Inc). The plaintiffs of the suit are relatives of people slain by terror attacks in Iraq; the case has a storied history, and was reported on by The New York Times in 2017.

As The Times reported at that time, the lawsuit “contends that major American corporations doing business with the Iraqi government during the Iraq War also provided it with free drugs and medical devices that became an important source of funding for a Shiite militia that targeted United States troops.”

The 5 companies accused (the as-yet-unnamed ones being General Electric and Roche Holding A.G.) released a statement saying that “further proceedings will show the companies are not responsible in any way.”

There is plenty of evidence to corroborate the accusations, however. According to The Washington Post’s reporting on the subject, “In 2011, Johnson & Johnson entered into an agreement with the Department of Justice to pay $70 million to resolve allegations of unlawful payments in a number of countries, including Iraq.”

Essentially, companies like J&J seem to have provided the Iraqi Ministry of Health — which at the time was run by extremists affiliated with Hezbollah — with bribes that included drugs in exchange for the ability to do business in the region. Extremists would then take these drugs themselves or sell them for weapons; these weapons and extremists ended up killing hundreds of Americans.

If J&J and other companies are found to have violated the USA’s Anti-Terrorism Act, consequences could be severe.

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Justice Served To Teva Pharmaceutical

While those consequences are still hypothetical as of writing, one drugmaker has been made to pay a price for misbehavior: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

According to Reuters, “New York…had accused the Israel-based drugmaker of engaging in misleading marketing practices that fueled opioid addiction in the state, including by pushing drugs for off-label use.” A jury found that Teva was, indeed, responsible.

The case was one of the 3,000+ that J&J and other entities are hoping to resolve through their multibillion-dollar settlement. Teva, which chose not to be a part of the settlement, will now seek a mistrial.

Based on the evidence presented at the trial, Teva was somewhat gleeful about misrepresenting the danger posed by Opioids. A corporate sales video from 2006 spoofed popular movies, including “Austin Powers” and “A Few Good Men.” In one scene from the sales video, according to Reuters, an “employee tells a lawyer played by Tom Cruise that he ‘can’t handle the truth’ about what sales representatives need to do to meet quotas.”

Damages owed by Teva have not yet been decided, but the company’s stock took a sharp fall after the verdict was revealed. The stock has recovered somewhat since then; it’s been trending consistently and significantly downward over the course of the last 12 months, however.

Whether or not Teva will get their mistrial is not yet known; the fate of the massive Opioid settlement money seems slightly more clear.

According to a January 5 report from The New Republic, money is certainly coming to localities but may be misappropriated once it arrives; in The Republic’s words, “Even in a historic moment of reckoning for the companies that manufactured the opioid crisis, how much harm can be undone will be determined by a patchwork of state regulations and by legislative bodies without the greatest track record when it comes to funneling corporate money into the necessary hands.”

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It was sometime in the 2010s when Fentanyl, a synthetic Opioid similar in color and texture to Heroin, made its way to the streets and to deadly consequence. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has confiscated over 15,000 pounds of Fentanyl this year alone; an amount large enough to kill every American. The biggest concern? It’s no longer an issue of Fentanyl-laced Heroin or other common street drugs like Cocaine, Molly (Ecstasy), or Methamphetamine (Meth). Drug traffickers are now using online modalities such as social media to sell pills of Fentanyl identical in resemblance to prescriptions such as OxyContin, Xanax, and Adderall; otherwise “tightly-controlled” substances.

This means, essentially, that everyone with a smartphone (roughly 85% of the American population) and a connection to the internet has access to the networks in which these bootleg pills are being sold. Federal authorities believe the rise in Fentanyl-laced drugs is due largely to the fact that the substance is easy to transport and difficult to track. “You can fake out your parents, your friends, your partner, law enforcement,” says Joseph Palamar, associate professor and drug epidemiologist at New York University. Unlike Heroin, which is cultivated from the opium-poppy plant, Fentanyl is derived from strictly chemicals and is 50 times more powerful than Heroin. The vast majority of these counterfeit pills have been brought, bought, or smuggled into the country from Mexico where drug cartels are purchasing the necessary ingredients from China.

Mexican Sinaloa Cartel Catering To “US Need” Of Fentanyl

In late October of this year, Mexican authorities intercepted the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the largest and most dangerous drug organizations in the Western Hemisphere, discovering a record-breaking amount of Fentanyl. In this one raid, police found approximately 260 pounds of the substance, estimated to be worth roughly $50 million US dollars.

Former commissioner of Mexico’s Federal Police, Manelich Castilla Craviotto told Business Insider, “If Mexican authorities seized more than 100 kilograms, it means criminals are producing at least several tons.” Fentanyl is both easier to produce than Cocaine or Heroin and is 20 times more profitable because it is easier to smuggle and the user requires only a minuscule dosage to become addicted; cooks are even trained to mix and create Fentanyl “according to US need”— a chilling remark. Craviotto also said, “Today Mexico does not have a policy or campaign to point out the traffickers and the producers. The present administration’s vision is very limited when compared to how things are done in the US,” a fact that makes the drug trade even more dangerous.

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DEA Releases Public Safety Alert

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100,000 people died from overdose between April of 2020 and April of 2021; an estimated 75,000 of those deaths were due to an Opioid overdose—largely, from Fentanyl. For the first time in 6 years, the DEA has issued a public safety alert on the dangers of fake pills after confiscating more than 9.5 million bootleg pills – an increase of nearly 430% since 2019. Of every fake pill the agency encountered, roughly 40% have contained at least 2 milligrams of Fentanyl: an amount comparable to a few grains of course sand and enough to cause a fatal overdose.

As recently as Thursday, December 16^th, the DEA discovered more than 570 new cases stemming from a single law enforcement surge, linking 39 fatal overdoses. “Social media is the perfect drug trafficking tool,” Anne Milgram, DEA Administrator said in a press conference on that same day. She spoke of cases of young teens found dead after taking what looked like prescribed Oxycodone or other legitimately procured medications purchased online, usually through social media. Drug cartels choose these mediums, Milgram says, for several reasons including the vast accessibility; “[they’re] easy to use, drug traffickers can hide their identities, they can lie about what they are selling, and most importantly, the sites permit the sale of these fake counterfeit pills every day to go unchecked.”

The other issue is that the network of criminal drug activity is completely misrepresenting what it is they are marketing and selling to people. Whether it is deliberate deception on the part of the drug cartels is not clear. “People think that they are buying real Xanax pills, real Adderall pills, real Oxycodone using online platforms that they trust…in reality, they’re getting deadly Fentanyl and pills that look just like the real thing,” Milgram said in the same conference. Hopefully awareness, vigilance, and tightened precautions can lead to a safer, more prosperous future.

The post The Deadly Link Between Social Media And Fentanyl Pills appeared first on Addiction Center.

On Thursday, a federal judge overturned a nearly $4.5 billion bankruptcy settlement that granted immunity to the Sackler family from civil lawsuits linked to their company Purdue Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of OxyContin. According to NPR, the settlement also included hundreds of individuals, companies, and other organizations vying for a “clean legal slate.” The judge, Colleen McMahon of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, stated in a written opinion on Thursday that the New York bankruptcy court that approved the settlement back in September did not have the authority to shield the Sackler family from future Opioid-related lawsuits.

The settlement was first approved by Judge Robert Drain of the US Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York. It settled that the owners of Purdue Pharma, members of the Sackler family, would renounce their ownership of the company and must pay back billions of their fortune to address the deadly Opioid epidemic. In addition, the Purdue company would be dissolved and re-emerge as Knoa Pharma which would still produce OxyContin and other drugs. By doing so, however, the family and related parties would be absolved from any liability related to the Purdue company.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of drugs that are derived from or mimic Opium, which is a chemical that occurs naturally in poppy seeds and plants. Opioids activate receptors in the brain and depress the central nervous system. When these receptors are activated, they release “feel-good” chemicals known as endorphins. Due to their intensely calming effects, Opioids have tremendously high rates of abuse which, in many cases, leads to dependence or addiction. This class of drugs includes the illicit drug Heroin, synthetic Opioids such as Fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally through physicians, such as Oxycodone or OxyContin, Codeine, Morphine, and many others.

Prescription Opioids, when used appropriately under a health care provider’s direction, can provide effective pain relief for mild to chronic health conditions. However, just because an Opioid is prescribed by a doctor, that doesn’t mean that the rate of addiction is any lower. Between the high rates of prescription and the addictive qualities of the drug, Opioids have gripped the nation in a deadly health crisis.

Purdue Pharma’s Involvement With The Opioid Crisis

The Sackler family has long been accused of fueling the nation’s Opioid crisis, tracing back to the 90s. Purdue Pharma’s aggressive and misleading advertisements of OxyContin neglected to disclose its highly addictive nature. The company and family members have denied these allegations.

Trusting the pharmaceutical company at its word, healthcare providers began prescribing OxyContin at higher rates leading to widespread misuse of both prescription and non-prescription Opioids. By 2006, there were 215,917,663 Opioid prescriptions in the US. This number translates to a prescribing rate of 72.4 prescriptions per 100 people. By 2020, this rate has dropped to 43.3.

In September 2019, the Purdue company filed for bankruptcy in the face of nearly 3,000 lawsuits accusing the company of contributing to the public health crisis that has claimed more than half a million American lives since 1999. In 2019, of the nearly 71,000 drug overdose deaths, 70.6% involved Opioids.

While the company formerly denied its involvement in the Opioid epidemic, in November 2020, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to 3 criminal charges, formally taking responsibility for its misconduct. This ruling angered many critics as they believed it still protected individuals, like the members of the Sackler family, from the consequences of their involvement.

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What To Expect Now

Hours after the bankruptcy settlement was decided, the Purdue company stated that it would appeal the decision, and the case may reach the US Supreme Court. According to Purdue Chairman Steve Miller, this decision to overturn the bankruptcy settlement will delay, or even end, the ability of communities to receive compensation to abate the Opioid crisis. While the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan may be on hold as legalities persist, the Opioid epidemic continues regardless of settlements and negotiations.

The post $4.5 Billion Purdue Pharmaceutical Bankruptcy Settlement Overturned appeared first on Addiction Center.

This Tuesday, Instagram debuted a new feature that they think can help to lower social media addiction amongst users. The photo sharing app’s “Take a break” tool was released after facing months of criticism for their child safety practices. The head of Instagram, Andrew Morresi, is set to appear before congress to address the topic on December 8th. 

Social Media Addiction

It is estimated that 10% of people in the US are experiencing an addiction to social media. While there is no medical diagnosis, overuse and compulsive social media behaviors can have negative effects on one’s physical and mental health. Research has shown that using social media can produce a similar dopamine increase to substance use. This chemical, which is associated with pleasure, is viewed by the brain as rewarding. This positive reinforcement is temporary, causing users to return to the app when it wears off. 

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While not everyone who uses social media will form an addiction, excessive use is a problem when it interferes with other aspects of an individual’s life. Negative effects of a social media addiction include:

• Low self-esteem 
• Feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Anxiety
• Depression 
• Disrupted sleep schedule
• Decreased school or work performance 
• Lack of empathy
• Not putting effort into “real life” relationships

What Is Instagram’s “Take A Break” Tool?

Instagram’s new “Take A Break” feature was designed to prevent social media addiction by urging users to close out the app after a set amount of time. Those who choose to utilize this setting must choose between 10, 20, or 30 minutes of use. After the selected amount of minutes has passed, users receive a full screen alert which includes suggested alternative activities. These suggestions include: taking a deep breath, writing something down, checking their to-do list, and listening to a song. 

This latest Instagram tool is available this week in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The social media company has also said that they are developing other tools to address these issues. They intended on creating a tool that will allow users to delete comments, posts, and previous likes in bulk. Additionally, they are working on an educational hub to provide resources for parents, as well as manage and view their child’s social media use. 

Instagram’s Impact On Young People

In October of this year, a former employee of Meta (previously Facebook) supplied a series of internal documents to journalists. Known as “The Facebook Papers,” these documents revealed that the tech conglomerate had conducted research on how Instagram can impact the teens who use their app. Meta’s data showed that 1/3rd of teenage girls reported that Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies.

One of the insider documents, released by France Haugen, reads, “Comparisons on Instagram can change how young women view and describe themselves.”

Even with the knowledge of the potential damage to mental health and body image, the company had not made any changes to their services or engagement techniques. In response to the whistle blower’s claims, a bipartisan group of state attorney general’s initiated an investigation into Meta. The 11 states involved in this investigation intend on examining how Instagram works to increase frequency and engagement specifically for young people. 

Meta claims that the initial reporting of their data lacked context and did not include important information. They insist that the survey of young girls included 12 issues total and that using Instagram made them feel better in all of the 11 other categories. 

A spokesperson for Meta said, “These accusations are false and demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts. While challenges in protecting young people online impact the entire industry, we’ve led the industry in combating bullying and supporting people struggling with suicidal thoughts, self-injury, and eating disorders.”

The company has also halted the development of a previously announced version of Instagram intended for only children to use. 

Is Instagram Designed For Addiction?

App developer Peter Mezyk spoke with Business Insider on the addictive qualities of social media platforms like Instagram. Mezyk told the site the ability of an app to introduce a new habit is often used to measure its success. Facebook and Instagram encourage habitual use because more time spent on the app increases their ad revenue. Mezyk described attention as currency in this situation. Because of this, it is believed that Instagram and Facebook are deliberately designed to lead to an addiction.

Mezyk also outlined the 3 criteria apps use to cause a habit to form: sufficient motivation, an action, and a trigger. This is called the “three-pronged approach” which is based on the Fogg Behavioral Model. Motivations are the reason users open an app, such as feeling like they might be missing out on something. Receiving a notification, and other triggers, cause users to click on the app. Actions, like tapping the like button, begin the behavioral loop. 

Mezyk believes that apps are mostly designed to be addictive because they don’t prioritize ethics. “The reason some apps are addictive is that most companies first ask themselves how they can make money with them – but ethical app development focuses on the user,” Mezyk said. 

Holding Meta Accountable

This week a group of around 300 scientists from the psychology, technology, and health fields penned an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg. These scientists have asked Meta’s CEO to allow outside researchers in to evaluate potential negative mental health effects from their apps.

It was stated in this letter that the group does not think that the leaked research alone proves the damage caused by Meta. They also wrote that the issues of teen and child mental health are too serious for Meta to withhold their data. 

Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, will testify under oath in front of congress for the first time this week. This panel, which is a subcommittee of the senate’s Commerce Committee, will be led by Senator Richard Blumenthal. He has said that he intends on asking questions about the app’s algorithms and how they can affect how children engage on the app. The panel is hoping to get Instagram to commit to being transparent about their rankings and recommendations. Executives at Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have already made a similar commitment. 

In addition to Instagram’s new “Take a break” setting, they have said they want to take a stricter approach when recommending content to teens. They plan to do so by actively suggesting alternative topics when young users have spent too much time viewing any type of content.

While these new measures aim to lower social media addiction, many individuals may still want to consider treatment for social media addiction. If you’re interested in learning more about online therapy options for social media addiction, click here.

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