Simply put, 2019 is going to be a stressful year for the big-name manufacturers of opioids. Starting sometime soon, a horde of state, city, and tribal governments are banding together to confront companies like Purdue Pharma, Walmart, and Rite-Aid about the dangers of the opioid epidemic and (even more surprising) plant to make huge demands for payment. Simply put, these government officials are accusing big-brand manufacturers for being completely aware of the risks of opioid medications and, by selling them under these pretenses, fueling the Opioid Crisis overall. According to Joe Rice (an attorney who is representing local governments), the next step is to share these dangerous truths with the public to create awareness about one root of the problem. Let’s take a closer look at how opioid producers will face a lot of trouble this year.
Leading the Public Astray
Ultimately, if this information is revealed to the public (as intended), the way we view the Opioid Crisis could change dramatically. As far back as the 1990s, members of the healthcare system were being pressured into helping people manage severe pain, and, as a result, Purdue Pharma developed the drug OxyContin (which would permanently change the drug game forever). At the time of this drug’s release, officials reported that an estimated 1% of patients who were using painkillers developed an addiction problem. As part of the lawsuit, lawyers are claiming that big-brand pharmaceutical manufacturers were fully aware of the dangerous side effects of these drugs but continued to market deadly painkillers to people who truly didn’t need them.
From Tobacco to Opioids
Overall, officials involved in the lawsuits are hoping this action will spur changes in the same manner as the Big Tobacco settlement back in the 1990s. Over two decades, cigarette companies have sent about $100 billion in compensation funds to help Americans who were victimized by tobacco and nicotine and support public costs. Ultimately, officials who are involved in the opioid lawsuits are hoping that (if the cases are won) the money will flow into poverty-stricken communities, where opioid addiction is the most severe. All we can do now is watch and wait for future updates.
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
As we have seen in recent reports, the monster that is the Opioid Crisis will only get worse unless people take action now. While necessary for chronic pain patients, opioids are deadly and potentially addictive drugs that can wreak havoc on your mind and body. Work as hard as you can to ensure you, your friends, and loved ones are not the next victims of these potentially life-threatening drugs. Are you suffering from opioid abuse or addiction? Is your friend or loved one suffering from a similar illness? In either case, 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 substances.
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.
