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Opioid Daily Media Report 8/29
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Republicans are no longer afraid to blame Big Pharma for the opioid crisis. (OPINION)
| The American Spectator
By Mytheos Holt
For months, the pharmaceutical industry’s consistent disregard of consumers and bad press has seemed like a setup that was missing a punchline. Critics of the industry have been consistently frustrated as we wait for the other shoe to drop. -
Alaska officials looking into lawsuit against opioid drugmakers
Aug 28, 2017 | Alaska Public Media
By Casey Grove
The State of Alaska is looking into whether it should sue the manufacturers of opioid painkillers for their contributions to the opioid epidemic and has hired a law firm that is representing two other states in related legal action. -
NYS Exposed: Counties may join lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies over opioid crisis
Aug 29, 2017 | WHEC (NBC)
By Jennifer Lewke
Did the makers of pain pills cause the opioid crisis that is crippling so many of our communities? A number of local counties think so and are exploring the idea of joining a class action lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies. -
WTOL 11 News Now This Morning
Aug 29, 2017 | WTOL (CBS)
By Toledo, OH
VIDEO LINK: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/29058399?token=8b4cb891-281f-4499-b2a6-4b1e4859f835 Rough Transcript: "candidates wants the city to join a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. wade kapszukiewicz held a news conference monday on the issue. he says all proceeds from this suit should be invested in treatment programs. "what i had hoped, in addition to whatever financial settlement there might be, these lawsuits being brought by cities across the country, states across the country, can have the effect of changing the behavior of these big drug manufacturers who willingly have promoted certain opioids and have gotten people addicted. if we can change the behavior, those big companies, we've all won." cincinnati, dayton, lorain and findlay have all joined the lawsuit. mayoral candidate tom waniewski issuing a statement on the issue. he says education and legislation are the best ways to deal with the opioid epidemic." -
News 10 NBC at 11
Aug 28, 2017 | WHEC (NBC)
By Rochester, NY
VIDEO LINK: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/29058413?token=8b4cb891-281f-4499-b2a6-4b1e4859f835 Rough Transcript: "tax payers a paying for the so-called opioid epidemic. that's why county governments say it's time for some accountability. the lawsuit against big pharma is coming up in new york state exposed. 11:11 PM11:12 PM11:13 PMdid the makers of pain pills 11:14 PMcause the opioid crisis that is crippling so many of our communities? a number of local counties think so. in tonight's new york state exposed report, news ten nbc investigative reporter jennifer lewke explains how county leaders are planning a class-action lawsuit against them. jennifer lewke/@whecjlewke - well, the counties say it's taxpayers who foot the bill for medicaid, for treatment programs and in some cases, death benefits when people become addicted. they want some accountability and they think this is one way to get it any sheriff, police chief or deputy will tell you the same thing: william sheron/genesee county sheriff - death associated with an overdose used to be fairly rare, now responding to calls where there's an overdose has become almost routine when folks can't get their hands on pills, many of them turn to a cheaper alternative that offers a similar feel... heroin. in new york state alone, we saw a 13% increase in overdose related deaths last year, compared to the year before. sheriff - this is something we're not going to arrest our way out of upwards of 15 counties here in neyork, believe that drug 11:15 PMmakers who pushed pills for years before knowing how truly addictive they were need to pay. those counties, which include genesse and wyoming, are joining a class action lawsuit against drug makers. jay gsell/genensse county manager - it's more about how do you get their attention and change the nature of how this industry is producing and or is recommending that these opioids be issued on such a broad scale basis butt to: laura paolucci/ wyoming co. health administrator - jlew - a lot of people will say, and i'm sure you've heard this, what good is suing the big pharma companies, that's like suing a car manufacturer when someone drives their car off a cliff butt to: laura - if you drive your car off a cliff and its faulty steering then someone should be held accountable accountable for the lives lost but also for the money spent trying to save them. jay gsell/genesee county manager - for us as a county government who is paying significant dollars out in medicaid expenses for residents in this community who need that for healthcare, in treatment programs that we support the attorney general in the state of ohio has filed a similar suit against drug makers saying in 2012, enough drugs were prescribed to provide 68 pills to every single person living in that state! this is a complex issue that demands complex responses butt to: jennifer lewke/@whecjlewke - there is no cost to the counties that are joining the class action. at this point, we have no idea how much they could make if they win down the line. but many of them are likening it to the big tobacco settlements and they want to be in on it... if and when the drugs makers are deemed responsible."
Traditional Media Coverage
Broadcast Media Coverage
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Republicans are no longer afraid to blame Big Pharma for the opioid crisis. (OPINION)
| The American Spectator
By Mytheos Holt
For months, the pharmaceutical industry’s consistent disregard of consumers and bad press has seemed like a setup that was missing a punchline. Critics of the industry have been consistently frustrated as we wait for the other shoe to drop.
These past few weeks, an avalanche of shoes poured down on the industry.
First, Ohio Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine, who has filed suit against the industry for its malfeasance, but otherwise seemingly remained quiet, came out swinging an op-ed for the Toledo Blade.
“We believe evidence will show that [pharmaceutical companies] flooded the market with prescription opioids, such as Oxycontin and Percocet, and grossly misleading information about the risks and benefits of these drugs,” DeWine thundered. “It’s time for these pharmaceutical Goliaths to take responsibility for their actions and stop trying to deceive Ohio and America. What they’ve done is morally and legally wrong.”
Coming from a Republican candidate for office at a time when Republican leadership seems increasingly and inscrutably blinkered by Pharma, such a warning was vital and necessary.
But DeWine was far from alone. On August 11, the state of New Hampshire joined his crusade against the industry’s malfeasance by filing suit against Purdue Pharma, which you may know as the company behind Oxycontin itself. As the Stamford Advocate reported in explaining the specifics behind this damning lawsuit:
Sales representatives of Purdue made calls to more prescribers in New Hampshire than any other maker of branded opioids, comprising two of every three such calls in the state, according to the complaint. The company allegedly maintained a state sales force of four to six representatives who were each given the goal by the company of seeing six to seven prescribers per day. From 2013 through 2015, Purdue met with 256 prescribers in the state during which the salesperson provided a meal, coffee or other benefits to the prescriber, the complaint said.
Since then, South Carolina’s Alan Wilson has joined the same cause.
Coming as they did on the heels of President Trump’s declaration that the opioid crisis had become a “national emergency,” these news stories represent just the tip of an emerging spear that is being progressively used to gore Pharma for its complicity in creating the opioid epidemic. More interesting, however, is that rather than coming from Washington, the anti-Pharma crusade, which carries bipartisan support, is sprouting in America’s statehouses.
There’s no necessary reason why this should be. Legislators in Congress who are willing to buck Pharma run the gamut from right-wing firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to left-wing darling Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the Senate, and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) to Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) in the House. In fact, the latter two have introduced a bill that closes a loophole that is preventing rural hospitals from accessing discounts on expensive medicines. Nevertheless, apparently the control of Pharma over levers of financial support for members of Congress has remained too strong for such reformers to get much of a hearing at the federal level, even in a White House whose main occupant has shown himself more than happy to criticize the industry.
But not so in the states. As already mentioned, DeWine began the process of suing the industry over its role in contributing to the opioid crisis all the way back in May, joining what was then a cause only taken up by Mississippi’s Jim Hood, and for an unrelated issue. This cause would later be joined by Missouri’s Josh Hawley, and the aforementioned Alan Wilson, to name only Republicans. State-level publications, meanwhile, are calling the opioid crisis Big Pharma’s “Big Tobacco moment” — an ominous sign for the industry.
In the absence (so far) of any federal intervention, this kind of reversion to federalism for a redress of grievances is both right and proper. Nevertheless, even after these lawsuits end, something must be done to ensure that a crisis like this does not happen again. One only hopes that the process of discovery brought about by so many courageous State Attorneys General will at last prove to be the sunlight that forces Congress to disinfect the cancer growing at the heart of pharma.
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Alaska officials looking into lawsuit against opioid drugmakers
Aug 28, 2017 | Alaska Public Media
By Casey Grove
The State of Alaska is looking into whether it should sue the manufacturers of opioid painkillers for their contributions to the opioid epidemic and has hired a law firm that is representing two other states in related legal action.
Those lawsuits, brought by South Carolina and New Hampshire, target Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. The plaintiff states allege the company contributed to a drastic and costly increase in opioid abuse by misrepresenting the risk of addiction posed by the widely-prescribed pain pill.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker declared the state’s opioid epidemic a disaster in February. Now, the state appears interested in getting back some of the funds it has spent fighting the epidemic.
State officials are not saying yet what the likelihood is of actually pursuing such a lawsuit, but it hired the law firm Motley Rice earlier this summer to examine the viability of bringing forward a case.
Cori Mills, with the state Department of Law, said Monday the state is interested in recouping some of its costs in fighting the epidemic, as well as correcting any bad practices on the part of the pharmaceutical companies.
“We’re going to look into it,” Mills said. “It’ll be thoroughly vetted, and then if we do end up deciding that a lawsuit can be filed and that a lawsuit is viable, then we’ll file that, and that’ll be a public document. But until then, there is no further information we can disclose on the investigation.”
Pharmaceutical companies have denied they did anything wrong, citing Food and Drug Administration approval and the legally mandated warnings featured on the drugs.
In 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to misleading consumers and paid a fine of $600 million to the U.S. government.
Mills said there is no timeline for when a decision might be made on pursuing a lawsuit. She said the state’s contract with Motley Rice is on a contingency fee basis, meaning the state pays no money up front and the law firm would get a portion of any settlement or judgment later.
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NYS Exposed: Counties may join lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies over opioid crisis
Aug 29, 2017 | WHEC (NBC)
By Jennifer Lewke
Did the makers of pain pills cause the opioid crisis that is crippling so many of our communities? A number of local counties think so and are exploring the idea of joining a class action lawsuit against the pharmaceutical companies.
Upwards of 15 counties including Genesee and Wyoming have or are likely to join the lawsuit; leaders say often, it’s taxpayers who foot the bill for medical care, treatment programs even death benefits for those who are addicted to opioids.
“Pharmaceutical companies aggressively marketed the availability of the opioids without really having any good data behind long-term studies, long-term effects for chronic pain or anything like that,” says Laura Paolucci, the Administrator for the Wyoming County Health Department.
When some of those who relied on the pills could no longer access them, they turned to a cheaper alternative that offered a similar feel: heroin.
Most local sheriffs, police chiefs and deputies locally will tell you the same thing: "Death associated with an overdose used to be fairly rare, now responding to calls where there's an overdose has become almost routine,” says William Sheron, the Genesee County Sheriff.In New York State alone, there was a 13 percent increase in overdose-related deaths in 2016 compared to the year before. "This is something we're not going to arrest our way out of,” adds Sheriff Sheron.
County administrators say the class action could be a way to at least start to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable. "For us, as a county government, we’re paying significant dollars out in Medicaid expenses for residents in this community who need that for health care, in treatment programs that we support,” says Jay Gsell, the Genesee County Manager adding, “it's more about how do you get their attention and change the nature of how this industry is producing and or is recommending that these opioids be issued on such a broad scale basis.”
Jennifer Lewke (News10NBC): "A lot of people will say… What good is suing the big pharma companies… isn’t that like suing a car manufacturer when someone drives off a cliff?"
Laura Paolucci: "If you drive your car off a cliff and its faulty steering then someone should be held accountable."
The attorney general in the state of Ohio has filed a similar lawsuit against drug makers saying in 2012, enough drugs were prescribed to provide 68 pills to every single person living in that state. Any money recovered in a potential settlement would go back to counties who have been forced to pay for care and centers that offer treatment and education about drug addiction. -
Aug 29, 2017 | WTOL (CBS)
By Toledo, OH
VIDEO LINK: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/29058399?token=8b4cb891-281f-4499-b2a6-4b1e4859f835
Rough Transcript: "candidates wants the city to join a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers. wade kapszukiewicz held a news conference monday on the issue. he says all proceeds from this suit should be invested in treatment programs. "what i had hoped, in addition to whatever financial settlement there might be, these lawsuits being brought by cities across the country, states across the country, can have the effect of changing the behavior of these big drug manufacturers who willingly have promoted certain opioids and have gotten people addicted. if we can change the behavior, those big companies, we've all won." cincinnati, dayton, lorain and findlay have all joined the lawsuit. mayoral candidate tom waniewski issuing a statement on the issue. he says education and legislation are the best ways to deal with the opioid epidemic."
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Aug 28, 2017 | WHEC (NBC)
By Rochester, NY
VIDEO LINK: http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/29058413?token=8b4cb891-281f-4499-b2a6-4b1e4859f835
Rough Transcript: "tax payers a paying for the so-called opioid epidemic. that's why county governments say it's time for some accountability. the lawsuit against big pharma is coming up in new york state exposed. 11:11 PM11:12 PM11:13 PMdid the makers of pain pills 11:14 PMcause the opioid crisis that is crippling so many of our communities? a number of local counties think so. in tonight's new york state exposed report, news ten nbc investigative reporter jennifer lewke explains how county leaders are planning a class-action lawsuit against them. jennifer lewke/@whecjlewke - well, the counties say it's taxpayers who foot the bill for medicaid, for treatment programs and in some cases, death benefits when people become addicted. they want some accountability and they think this is one way to get it any sheriff, police chief or deputy will tell you the same thing: william sheron/genesee county sheriff - death associated with an overdose used to be fairly rare, now responding to calls where there's an overdose has become almost routine when folks can't get their hands on pills, many of them turn to a cheaper alternative that offers a similar feel... heroin. in new york state alone, we saw a 13% increase in overdose related deaths last year, compared to the year before. sheriff - this is something we're not going to arrest our way out of upwards of 15 counties here in neyork, believe that drug 11:15 PMmakers who pushed pills for years before knowing how truly addictive they were need to pay. those counties, which include genesse and wyoming, are joining a class action lawsuit against drug makers. jay gsell/genensse county manager - it's more about how do you get their attention and change the nature of how this industry is producing and or is recommending that these opioids be issued on such a broad scale basis butt to: laura paolucci/ wyoming co. health administrator - jlew - a lot of people will say, and i'm sure you've heard this, what good is suing the big pharma companies, that's like suing a car manufacturer when someone drives their car off a cliff butt to: laura - if you drive your car off a cliff and its faulty steering then someone should be held accountable accountable for the lives lost but also for the money spent trying to save them. jay gsell/genesee county manager - for us as a county government who is paying significant dollars out in medicaid expenses for residents in this community who need that for healthcare, in treatment programs that we support the attorney general in the state of ohio has filed a similar suit against drug makers saying in 2012, enough drugs were prescribed to provide 68 pills to every single person living in that state! this is a complex issue that demands complex responses butt to: jennifer lewke/@whecjlewke - there is no cost to the counties that are joining the class action. at this point, we have no idea how much they could make if they win down the line. but many of them are likening it to the big tobacco settlements and they want to be in on it... if and when the drugs makers are deemed responsible."
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