When you consider that 200,000 Ohio residents are suffering from opioid addiction, you may begin to realize why officials have referred to the Buckeye States as an epicenter for the Opioid Crisis. For decades, these painkillers have wreaking havoc across the United States, but some of the locations that have been hit the hardest by this terrible public health epidemic are located in the Midwest. For some reason, Ohio seems to receiving the full brunt of the crisis. Why is this the case, you may ask? According to state lawmakers, one of the culprits behind the epidemic may be Big Pharma, and you can easily see why. After all, these companies produce drugs that have fed the Opioid Crisis and have not shown any signs of backing down. As a result, Ohio has actually taken the extra step of suing Big Pharma.
A Big Pharma Lawsuit
Simply put, the State of Ohio is suing Big Pharma for severe damages. Similar to a case that took place in Mississippi, the Ohio lawsuit is attacking manufacturers for purposefully downplaying the risks of opioid medications and capitalizing on the potential benefits of this painkillers. Simply put, newly appointed Governor Mike DeWine has explained how this evidence will reveal how Big Pharma has completely and purposefully misinformed doctors to boost the sales of these deadly drugs.
False Claims about Drugs
As part of the lawsuit, officials have placed the blame on Purdue Pharma, Endo Health Solutions, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (and its branch Cephalon), Johnson & Johnson (and its subsidiaries Allergen and Janssen Pharmaceuticals). According to the claims, these companies actively attempt to market these dangerous drugs despite being fully knowledgeable about the potential health problems. As Ohio officials have explained, these manufacturers instigated long-term plans to ensure these drugs grew in popularity among the target demographics.
“We Aren’t Involved”
As expected, the companies involved in the lawsuit are completely denying the claims Ohio is making against them. Despite their comeback, though, statistics have confirmed a steady increase in company growth and profit, accompanied by an increase in overdose fatalities by 642% (from 2000 to 2015). In fact, by 2014 and 2015, the State of Ohio experienced the most severe rate of deaths related to synthetic opioids in the entire United States.
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Opioids are extremely potent and dangerous drugs that have a high risk for abuse and addiction. If you are ever instructed to take these medications, proceed with caution. Follow the instructions to the letter and never take more than the required dose. Although they might be able to help people cope with pain (chronic or injury-related), these drugs can still wreak havoc on the mind and body.
If you are suffering from a severe case of opioid use disorder or have a friend or loved one who is coping with this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process detox and withdrawal and guide you through each step of the rehabilitation process to help you separate yourself from these deadly painkillers.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your attachment to opioids and take an essential step against the Opioid Crisis.
