Your Voice Ohio - What's the role of pharmaceutical companies in the opioid crisis?

What's the role of pharmaceutical companies in the opioid crisis? Opioids are an important drug for people suffering from chronic pain and those in end of life care. Recently we've witnessed a steep increase in opioid prescriptions: sales in the U.S. nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2014, despite there being no overall change in the amount of pain Americans report. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies have increased funding to advertising and medical education programs. As more cities, counties, tribes, and states file lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, this week's blog explores the role they play in the opioid crisis.  read the full story

Cleveland, Cuyahoga County's opioid lawsuits set as first cases against drug companies to go to trial, judge says Cleveland.com OPINION: Doctors seen as cause, solution to crisis Wilmington News Journal Ohio State Chiropractic Association meets with Opioid Task Force WFMJ MHRS: What Columbiana County is doing about opiate epidemic Salem News Long-term war on abuse of opiates is far from over The Vindicator  Brown Calls for Health Campaign to Fight Against Opioid Epidemic WKSU Medical marijuana: These are the Ohio doctors who can recommend medical weed for their patients Cincinnati.com Opiate deaths, overdoses decline in Lima area Lima News Ohio legislators hear support for bill seeking transparency in prescription pricing Columbus Dispatch Naloxone credited for drop in opioid deaths Dayton Daily News Deadly dangers lurk for recreational drug users as opioid crisis evolves Akron Beacon Journal Cleveland, Cuyahoga County's opioid lawsuits set as first cases against drug companies to go to trial, judge says Cleveland.com

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