Tag: opioid crisis

Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s ties to opioid crisis revealed by HBO ‘The Crime of the Century’ filmmaker

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According to documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, America’s opioid crisis — as bad as it continues to be — was on the precipice of becoming much worse under the administration of former president Donald Trump.

Appearing on the Daily Beast’s “The New Abnormal” podcast with host Molly Jong-Fast, the man behind the “Going Clear” expose of Scientology described what he discovered when looking into how Big Pharma helped create a massive addiction problem.

Talking about his “The Crime of the Century ” documentary for HBO, Gibbs brought up both Trump’s involvement and also linked former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the crisis. Continue reading.

Purdue Pharma, facing thousands of lawsuits and bankruptcy, wants to pay ‘certain employees’ $34 million in bonuses

Washington Post logoThe company ‘is not an easy place to work right now,’ its attorneys told the judge.

Officials at troubled drugmaker Purdue Pharma say “certain employees” should be paid more than $34 million in bonuses for meeting and exceeding goals over the last three years, even though the company is facing thousands of lawsuits over its role in the nation’s opioid crisis and earlier this week filed for bankruptcy.

In a legal filing, attorneys for Purdue Pharma asked a judge to authorize millions in payments to employees who have met “target performance goals.”

It is not clear from the company filings why employees would be eligible for bonuses because, while the bonuses are supposed to be partly contingent on the company’s financial performance, the company has filed for bankruptcy.

View the complete September 19 article by Peter Whoriskey on The Washington Post website here.

Drug companies seek removal of judge in landmark opioid case

NOTE:  Chapter 2 of the “trust Corporate America to do the right thing is below.”

Washington Post logoDrug companies facing more than 2,000 lawsuits over their alleged roles in the opioid epidemic demanded Saturday that the federal judge overseeing the case step aside, questioning his impartiality because he has consistently urged both sides to settle the case.

The request comes after a series of rulings against the companies by U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster in the landmark trial slated to begin Oct. 21.

“Defendants do not bring this motion lightly,” the lawyers wrote in a filing Saturday morning on behalf of some of the nation’s biggest drug distributors and retailers but no drug manufacturers. “Taken as a whole and viewed objectively, the record clearly demonstrates that recusal is necessary.”

View the complete September 14 article by Scott Higham and Lenny Bernstein on The Washington Post website here.

New York Uncovers $1 Billion in Sackler Family Wire Transfers

NOTE:  In the “trust corporate American to do the right thing file, we’re passing along this article:

New York Times logoIn a court filing, the state attorney general’s office says that it has found new account transfers by members of the family that owns Purdue Pharma, the maker of opioids.

The New York attorney general’s office said on Friday that it had tracked about $1 billion in wire transfers by the Sackler family, including through Swiss bank accounts, suggesting that the family tried to shield wealth as it faced a raft of litigation over its role in the opioid crisis.

Earlier this week, thousands of municipal governments and nearly two dozen states tentatively reached a settlement with the Sackler family and the company it owns, Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin. It was unclear if the new disclosure would change the thinking of any of the parties that agreed to the settlement.

The attorneys general of a majority of states, including New York and Massachusetts, have already balked at the proposed deal, contending that the Sackler family has siphoned off company profits that should be used to pay for the billions of dollars in damage caused by opioids.

View the complete September 13 article by Danny Hakim on The New York Times website here.

After Opioid Community Conversation, Phillips Takes Action In Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced a series of legislative actions that he has taken based on discussions from the opioid community conversation he hosted last month.

Phillips joined the Bipartisan Heroin and Opioids Task Force, a group of Congressional lawmakers focused on writing and supporting bills that address the opioid crisis. He also co-sponsored a series of bipartisan bills that would prevent the spread of opioid addiction and overdose.

“The opioid crisis is not a distant problem,” said Phillips. “It is affecting families right here in our backyard. Our recent community conversation brought together state lawmakers, law enforcement, addiction experts and advocates for a powerful discussion about how we can build a safer, healthier community. We need to invest in prevention, the treatment of addiction, and support for those in recovery. Representation begins with listening, and I’m honored to do my part in Congress based on the stories and concerns I hear at home.”

Phillips has signed on as a cosponsor of the following bills: Continue reading “After Opioid Community Conversation, Phillips Takes Action In Congress”

Bipartisan compromise reached on strategy to address Minnesota’s opioid crisis

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, a House/Senate conference committee arrived at a bipartisan agreement on compromise legislation aimed at stopping Minnesota’s opioid crisis. Funded through fees paid by drug makers and distributors, the bill invests in new and proven strategies to address opioid use disorders. It also delivers funding to counties for the significant public safety resources they are expending.

“Working together, the Legislature forged a bipartisan compromise that recognizes the severity of our state’s opioid crisis and gives us the tools to attack this public health disaster,” said Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), House Majority Whip and the bill’s chief author. “For too long, families and communities have been waiting for the Legislature to take action. While overdue, this compromise puts us on the path to prevent more heartbreaking tragedies. It also brings Big Pharma to the table in a meaningful way so they are held accountable and contribute to the solution.” Continue reading “Bipartisan compromise reached on strategy to address Minnesota’s opioid crisis”

Trump’s claim of ‘amazing’ success in cutting opioid prescriptions

“One year ago, we pledged to cut nationwide opioid prescriptions by one-third. Already during my time in office, we have reduced the total amount of opioid prescribed by 34 percent. That’s a pretty amazing number.”

— President Trump, speaking at a drug abuse summit in Atlanta, April 24, 2019

During a recent speech on the administration’s efforts to ease the opioid crisis, President Trump asserted that his administration had already achieved its goal of cutting nationwide opioid prescriptions by one-third.

Trump’s original goal, made on March 19, 2018, was to reach this target within three years. So obviously we were curious about whether the claim about already reaching the milestone within a year was valid.

Here’s what we found out. It’s an interesting tale of how data generated in the administration loses its nuance the closer it gets to the president’s lips.

The Pinocchio Test

U.S. Rep Phillips to host opioid crisis conversation April 22 in Shorewood

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who represents Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, will host a free community conversation focused on the opioid crisis on Monday, April 22, at Shorewood Community & Event Center, 5735 Country Club Road. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.

Phillips, along with state Sen. Chris Eaton (D-Brooklyn Center) and a panel of health care providers, community advocates and government officials, will discuss how Minnesotans are innovating and organizing towards a solution for the epidemic.

View the complete April 16 by Sabina Badola article on The Sun-Sailor website here.

House DFL leaders to hold press conference before vote on bill addressing Minnesota’s opioid crisis

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – During this afternoon’s floor session, the Minnesota House is set to vote on HF 400, a bill authored by House Majority Whip Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth) aimed at ending the state’s opioid crisis. Prior to the session, House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park) and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley) will join Rep. Olson for a press conference at 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol.

The legislation contains a comprehensive set of education, intervention, treatment and recovery strategies, including creation of an Opioid Stewardship Advisory Council. The bill holds pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the crisis through registration fees which will be deposited in an Opioid Stewardship Fund.

WHAT: Press conference previewing House consideration of HF 400, legislation to address Minnesota’s opioid crisis

WHO: Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), bill author and House Majority Whip; House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL – Brooklyn Park); and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley)

WHEN: Monday, March 18, 2019, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Press Conference Room B971, Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul