opioid epidemic News

Boston to Sue Drug Companies Over Opioids Epidemic

Boston is retaining a law firm to sue pharmaceutical companies for damages from the deadly opioid epidemic. Democratic Mayor Marty Walsh announced Tuesday he’s tapped Motley Rice and expects the South Carolina law firm will file litigation by the fall. …

Drugmakers Balk at Funding Opioid Epidemic Fix; Counting on Court Wins

Drug companies are in no rush to finance a solution to the opioid epidemic. Companies including Johnson & Johnson and McKesson Corp. are preparing to take their chances in court rather than pay billions of dollars to settle lawsuits blaming …

Working with Physicians, Cigna Cuts Prescription Opioid Use by 25%

Health insurer Cigna said it has achieved a 25 percent reduction in opioid use among its customers as a result of a partnership with more than 1.1 million prescribing physicians. The company said it reached this key metric one year …

Walgreens Agrees to $5.5M Settlement with Massachusetts

Pharmacy chain Walgreens Co. has agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve allegations that it overcharged for prescriptions covered by the Massachusetts workers’ compensation insurance system. State Attorney General Maura Healey says the “settlement ensures that Walgreens does not profit …

Tennessee Gov Proposes $30M Plan to Fight State Opioid Epidemic

Gov. Bill Haslam touted a $30 million plan Monday that focuses on prevention, treatment and law enforcement to attack an opioid epidemic that kills at least three people a day in Tennessee. The Republican governor released details of the `TN …

Delaware Sues Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors Over Epidemic

Delaware on Friday became the latest state to file a lawsuit accusing corporations of helping fuel the national opioid epidemic, suing a wide range of companies involved in making, distributing and selling prescription painkillers. The lawsuit, filed by Delaware Attorney …

McKesson Board Minutes Indicate Little Oversight by Directors of Opioid Operations, Lawsuit Says

McKesson Corp.’s board failed to audit the company’s system to spot suspicious shipments of opioid-based painkillers even after agreeing to do so as part of a settlement, according to a summary of board minutes unsealed Friday in a shareholder lawsuit. …

U.S. Expands Drug Testing for Pilots, Train Engineers to Include Opioids

Airline pilots, train engineers and truck drivers subject to federally mandated drug screening will soon be tested for a range of opioids under a new rule issued Thursday. While transportation workers have long been subject to random screenings for various …

Kentucky Accuses Endo of Contributing to Opioid Epidemic

Kentucky accused units of Endo International Plc on Monday of contributing to drug overdoses and an opioid epidemic by deceptively marketing its painkiller Opana ER, the latest lawsuit by state or local governments against the drugmaker. Kentucky Attorney General Andy …

New Mexico Sues 8 Drug Manufacturers, Distributors over Opioid Epidemic

New Mexico has sued eight opioid manufacturers and wholesale distributors, becoming the latest state or local government to file a lawsuit seeking to hold corporations accountable for a national drug addiction epidemic. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas accused Purdue …