opioid crisis Archives - The Ohio Star

Drug Manufacturer Agrees to Multi-Billion Dollar Settlement with Victims of Opioid Epidemic

August 1, 2022July 31, 2022 Admin

Teva Pharmaceuticals, one of the world’s largest generic drug manufacturer, has reached an agreement in principle to settle all outstanding lawsuits over their alleged involvement in the national opioid crisis for $4.35 billion, according to a Teva press release.

This payout includes a commitment to supply $1.2 billion worth of Narcan, a drug that reverses opioid overdose, over the next ten years, the release states. The $4.25 billion will be distributed over the next 13 years, with $100 million being earmarked for Native American Tribes.

U.S. Opioid Crisis to Spur ‘Mass Death’ as Pain Pills Mixed with Other Drugs, Study Warns

July 31, 2022July 30, 2022 Admin

Researchers are warning that the United States is facing its most significant spike in opioid deaths as patients increasingly mix synthetic pain pills with stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines.

Ohio Attorney General’s Office Warns of New Deadly Synthetic Drug

April 22, 2022April 21, 2022 Peter D'Abrosca

Ohio’s top attorney this week is warning residents of a new class of designer drugs that are more deadly than fentanyl.

“Frankenstein opioids are even more lethal than the drugs already responsible for so many overdose deaths,” Attorney General Dave Yost said in a press release. “Law enforcement and the public need to pay attention to these emerging hazards.”

Columbus Giving Naloxone to Residents to Prevent Opioid Overdoses

March 24, 2022March 23, 2022 Peter D'Abrosca

In conjunction with Franklin County, the city of Columbus is inviting opioid-addicted residents to order free naloxone, also known as Narcan, to help them reverse overdoses.

“Narcan distribution is part of our comprehensive programming to address the addiction crisis – and it is highly effective,” Columbus’ Director of Communications Kelli Newman told The Ohio Star. “Last year, through the Columbus & Franklin County Addiction Plan, we provided 24,144 Narcan kits (48,244 doses) and conducted 624 community trainings. As a result of Narcan being dispensed by bystanders, friends and family members, there were 3,699 overdose reversals in our community last year. Simply put, Narcan saves lives.”

Ohio AG Yost Announces $800 Million Settlement with Opioid Distributors

September 20, 2021September 19, 2021 Cooper Moran

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Friday that the state reached an $808 million agreement with the three largest distributors of opioids.

The mutual agreement is meant to provide monetary relief for communities throughout the state that were hit hard by the addiction crisis.

Former Head of OxyContin Giant Purdue Pharma Denies Fault or Blame in Opioid Crisis

August 23, 2021August 22, 2021 Ohio Star Staff

The former president and board chair of Purdue Pharma testified in court on Wednesday that he, his family and the company are not at fault for the opioid crisis, CBS News reported.

Richard Sackler, 76, who is a member of the family that owns the OxyContin maker, denied responsibility at a White Plains, New York, bankruptcy hearing, CBS News reported.

15 States Reach Agreement, Pave Way for $4.5 Billion Settlement over Opioid Crisis

July 11, 2021July 10, 2021 Ohio Star Staff

Spilled pill bottle with lid beside bottle

A coalition of 15 states agreed to a deal with drug maker Purdue Pharma, which could soon lead to a $4.5 billion settlement over the company’s role in the U.S. opioid epidemic.

The states agreed to no longer oppose Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan while the pharmaceutical company agreed to publicly release a trove of millions of documents, according to a court filing late Wednesday night. The Sackler family, which owns the company, would pay an additional $50 million under the settlement.

The agreement will be tacked onto a broader proposal that is set to be voted on by more than 3,000 plaintiffs, The New York Times reported. In addition to the states, plaintiffs include cities, counties and tribes that sued the company over its role in boosting its painkiller OxyContin, the cause of thousands of opioid deaths.

More Lethal Fentanyl Found Along the Southern Border this Year Than Last

June 28, 2021June 27, 2021 The Center Square

Federal authorities have seized significantly more fentanyl along the U.S.-Mexican border in Arizona and California since October than they did in the entire 2020 fiscal year.

Since October, authorities have seized 7.000 pounds of the drug, compared to just 4,500 pounds in the entire last fiscal year, according to data from Customs and Boarder Protection. The reasoning, according to authorities, is simply supply and demand.

Reports: Largest Increase of Year-over-Year Opioid Overdoses Ever Recorded in 2020

January 11, 2021January 10, 2021 The Center Square

In a year marred by death from an ongoing pandemic, 2020 also saw record overdose deaths.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 2020 saw a record year-over-year number of opioid overdose deaths.

House Lawmaker Calls on Ohio State Senate to Pass Bipartisan Opioid Measure

April 3, 2020April 2, 2020 Samantha Witwer

Ohio State Representative Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) called on the State Senate Thursday to pass House Bill 10 (HB 10). The legislation was passed unanimously in June, 2019 with the help of the bill’s co-sponsor Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Twp.).

“The all-encompassing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies exactly why we need a dedicated office to focus on drug addiction in our state. We cannot afford to take our eye off the ball even in the face of another crisis,” said Rep. Brown in a statement.

Justice Department Awards $6 Million to Combat Opioid Crisis in Southern Ohio

December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs announced more than $333 million in awards Friday to help communities affected by the opioid crisis, including $6.1 million for public safety and health professionals in southern Ohio.

Trump Administration Awards $21 Million to Ohio to Help Fight Opioid Crisis

August 15, 2019August 14, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that it has awarded nearly $400 million nationwide to combat the opioid crisis, including $21 million to Ohio.

’60 Minutes’ Discovers Opioid Silk-Road from China to Akron

May 1, 2019April 30, 2019 Mitch Shirley

The CBS weekly show 60 Minutes recently discovered a drug route leading into Ohio. The CBS team found that fentanyl plants in Shanghai have been trafficking their product through Akron. Guanghua Zheng, a free citizen of Shanghai, is a wanted man in America. Zheng illegally imported fentanyl and other…

Springfield Man Gets Five Years for Intent to Distribute Enough Carfentanil to Kill 700 People

April 17, 2019April 16, 2019 Anthony Gockowski

Alandre J. Gillbreath of Springfield, Ohio was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday for possession with intent to distribute enough carfentanil to kill 700 people. According to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Ohio, Gillbreath was arrested in May 2017 when police officers responded to…

Ohio Gov.-Elect Mike DeWine Says Inauguration Will be Celebration of ‘Faith, Family, and Friends’

December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gov.-elect Mike DeWine (R-OH) announced key leaders of his Inaugural Committee and staff this week who will oversee a week-long celebration of “faith, family, and friends” after the Ohio’s next governor is sworn in. According to a Thursday press release, Suzanne and Michael Kiggin were named chairs of the committee…

String of Fatal Opioid Overdoses in Ohio Traced to Chinese Distributor

November 20, 2018November 19, 2018 Anthony Accardi

A Chinese businessman who had been living in the Boston area was sentenced to nearly six years in prison Monday for distributing opioids that were shipped from China to the United States and eventually made their way to Ohio. Bin Wang, 43, a Chinese national, was sentenced to 71 months…

Deadly Chinese Fentanyl Pouring into Ohio Targeted by New Law, Sen. Portman Says

November 19, 2018November 18, 2018 Anthony Accardi

Most of the deadly fentanyl being pumped into Ohio communities arrives from China via the U.S. Postal Service, a pathway that will soon be shut down thanks to a new federal law, says U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). “The refrain I hear across Ohio about the opioid epidemic is clear: People…

Jim Renacci Issues Statement Opposing Ohio’s ‘Issue 1’ Ballot Proposal

September 20, 2018September 19, 2018 Anthony Accardi

Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Renacci issued a statement Wednesday saying he opposes Issue 1, a constitutional amendment that would significantly reduce criminal penalties for drug possession. Renacci (R-OH-16) has made solving Ohio’s opioid-addiction crisis a priority of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. He is running against two-term incumbent Sen.…

Kasich Warns Of Widespread Fentanyl, Warns Users They Are ‘Playing With The Devil’

August 2, 2018August 1, 2018 Admin

by Steve Birr Authorities in Ohio are cracking down on drug dealers trafficking in the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl with harsher legal penalties as synthetic overdose deaths continue rising. Republican Gov. John Kasich signed a bill Wednesday that reclassifies fentanyl from a Schedule II to a Schedule I substance and…

Three People Are Dying Each Day From Opioids In Tennessee

July 29, 2018July 28, 2018 Admin

by Steve Birr A new report reveals the deteriorating national opioid epidemic is hitting Tennessee particularly hard, killing three people across the state each day. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam created the Tennessee Commission on Pain and Addiction Medicine Education Jan. 24 to investigate the addiction crisis and develop new standards for…

Illegal Aliens Charged In Heroin Scheme That Led To Overdose Deaths In Tennessee

July 20, 2018July 19, 2018 Admin

by Will Racke Two illegal aliens have been indicted on multiple counts of conspiracy and drug distribution for allegedly running a drug trafficking operation that led to the overdose deaths of at least two people in Tennessee, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. Juan Manuel Morales-Rodriguez, 39, and Juan Samudio-Castro —…

Gov. Haslam Signs Legislation to Restrict Opioid Access, Punish Trafficking, Provide Treatment Help

July 3, 2018July 3, 2018 Jason M. Reynolds

The state of Tennessee is adding restrictions to opioid prescriptions and measures to track and punish unlawful distribution of the powerful pain medications. Gov. Bill Haslam signed two bills and issued an executive order last Friday to support TN Together, the latest effort to fight the opioid crisis, WBIR reported,…

Attorney General Sessions Announces Charges For 601 People In Largest Health Care Fraud Bust In History

July 1, 2018June 30, 2018 Admin

by Steve Birr Federal officials are charging 601 people, including more than 100 medical workers, for fueling opioid addiction in the largest bust of health care fraud in U.S. history. The Department of Justice revealed the charges Thursday, which were brought as part of an annual effort to dismantle…

Rep. DesJarlais Focuses in on Support for Law Enforcement and Addiction Treatment

June 16, 2018June 15, 2018 John Bryant

Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) released a statement this week geared to focusing attention on his work in support of both law enforcement and addiction treatment. “During a week in which the House of Representatives focused solely on solutions to the country’s opioid crisis, Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D., voted to improve…

STUDY: Washington, D.C. Has the Worst Drug Use and Addiction of Anywhere in the U. S.

May 15, 2018July 18, 2018 Admin

by Anders Hagstrom Washington, D.C., has the highest rate of drug use and addiction of any state in the country, according to a WalletHub study released Monday. Drug addiction has become an epidemic in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 60,000 Americans in 2016 — more than…

DEA Knowingly Let Admitted Addicts, Dealers Prescribe Drugs

May 8, 2018May 7, 2018 Admin

by Ethan Barton Admitted drug addicts and dealers were among the hundreds of thousands of people and businesses the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licensed to manufacture, distribute or prescribe pharmaceuticals over the past 12 years, a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation has found. The agency stripped only 240 licenses…