According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse’s March 2018 report, 115 people in the United States die from an Opioid overdose every day. Overdose deaths used to be rare. However, now Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. This surpasses annual deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents, guns, and HIV infection. But as more people die from opioids, the drug manufacturer’s profits are increasing.
About Opioids
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug known as heroin, and synthetic prescription drugs including fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, or methadone (drugs with common names such as Vicodin, Percocet, and OxyContin). Prescription opioids are medications that are chemically similar to endorphins and interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain. Endorphins are opioids our body makes naturally to relieve pain. In nature, opioids are in the seed pod of the opium poppy plant. Opioid medications can be natural or synthetic.
For most people, when taking medically prescribed opioids for a short time, they are relatively safe and can reduce pain effectively. However, dependence and addiction are still potential risks when taking prescription opioids. The longer you use these medications, the higher your chance of developing addiction symptoms.
The Rise of Opioid Overdoses
In 2016, more Americans died from drug overdoses than the number of American soldiers during the entire Vietnam War. These deaths have increased since 1999, which coincides with the push of opioid campaigns. These campaigns convinced doctors using false information that opioids are non-habit forming.
In fact, opioid manufacturers used big tobacco style techniques to increase opioid use. The only reason was to boost sales. The tactics used are front groups with key opinion leaders. These leaders in the health field were paid to promote that opioids were not risky. This false narrative has led to an enormous loss of human life and suffering.
As the opioid manufacturers made billions of dollars, individual patients relying on these companies paid the price.
Big Pharma Pushing Opioids
Many opioid manufacturers joined together and spent $106 million to lobby Congress for more industry-friendly laws. Then, a new law passed in April 2016 now makes it practically impossible for the DEA to stop pharmaceutical companies from delivering suspicious orders. These companies spend millions to roll back laws designed to stop drug abuse. This is a whole new level of greed. They continue to expand the epidemic to become richer.
In February 2018, Purdue Pharma announced the company will stop marketing its painkillers to doctors. Purdue told its employees that it will eliminate half of its sales force and send a letter to doctors this week telling them that salespeople will no longer go to clinics to talk about their opioid products. This comes as the company that is responsible for pushing opioids in the 1990s faces countless lawsuits from cities, counties, and states. These entities blame drug manufacturers for irresponsibly fostering the current overdose crisis.
Retain a Victorious Team for Your Case
In the past, The Michael Brady Law Firm has secured numerous victories for clients who have been hurt by doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and other medical organizations. Therefore, let us bring our passion and experience to your case to help you find the compensation you need to recover from your opioid overdose and possible hospitalization. We can also help you recover medical expenses incurred from your overdose.