Tag: opioid

GOP Lawmaker Seeks to Have Fentanyl Designated as Weapon of Mass Destruction

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) on June 13 introduced a bill that seeks to label the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). The “Fentanyl is a WMD Act” would, if enacted, instruct the assistant secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office within the Department of Homeland Security to treat the…


Folded Dollar Bills May Contain Fentanyl, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office Warns

A Tennessee sheriff’s department has warned the public not to pick up folded dollar bills found on the ground because they may contain fatal amounts of fentanyl. The Giles County Sheriff’s Department issued a public safety notice after two instances where a folded dollar bill containing the deadly opioid was found and picked up. “When…


Rise of New Opioid in Canada’s Illegal Drug Supply, Warns Substance Use Research Expert

A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly appearing in Canada’s illegal drug supply. In an alert issued in March, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) warned there is a rising presence in the drug supply of potent synthetic opioids referred to as…


Presence of New, More Potent Opioid Growing in Canada’s Illegal Drug Supply, Warns Substance Use Research Organization

A national substance use research organization is warning about a new type of opioid that is increasingly appearing in Canada’s illegal drug supply. In an alert issued in March, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) warned there is a rising presence in the drug supply of potent synthetic opioids referred to as…


Idaho Announces $119 Million Opioid Crisis Settlement

BOISE—Idaho officials on Friday announced a $119 million settlement with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors over their role in the opioid addiction crisis. Republican Gov. Brad Little and Republican Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said it’s the second-largest consumer settlement in state history, trailing only the 1998 national tobacco settlement of $712 million….


Opioid Distributors Reach $518 Million Settlement With Washington State

Washington has reached a $518 million settlement with drug distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp., and Cardinal Health, ending a months-long trial over the companies’ alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the state, the three companies announced on Tuesday. McKesson will pay $197 million, while AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal will each pay $160.5 million. Washington…


Purdue Urges Appeals Court to Revive Sackler Opioid Lawsuit Shield

Judges on a U.S. appeals court appeared hesitant on Friday to revive a legal shield that would protect members of the Sackler family who own Purdue Pharma from lawsuits related to the prescription opioid OxyContin, a key to ending the company’s bankruptcy. During oral arguments, a three-judge panel on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of…


FDA Not Issuing Contracts to McKinsey Amid Investigation Into Conflict of Interest in Opioid Consulting

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not be issuing new contracts to the consulting firm McKinsey and Co. amid an investigation into potential conflicts of interest, a top official has confirmed. The U.S. House Oversight Committee is currently investigating McKinsey over allegations that it was working for the U.S. government on issues relating to the opioid epidemic while at…


‘Kids Continue to Die Every Day’: Father Who Lost Son to Fentanyl Slams California Legislature’s Rejection of Bill to Punish Dealers

California lawmakers recently tried to take bold action to combat the growing fentanyl crisis by increasing the punishment for drug traffickers and sellers. However, according to an advocate, a bill that would have helped address the issue was “shot down” by the state Assembly’s Public Safety Committee on April 19. Jaime Puerta, a California resident…


J&J Settles West Virginia Opioid Litigation for $99 Million

Johnson & Johnson said on Monday it agreed to pay $99 million to settle claims by West Virginia that it helped fuel an opioid addiction crisis in the state, removing the company from an ongoing trial that began earlier this month. West Virginia is still pursuing claims against Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. and AbbVie Inc.’s…