Two Lawsuits By North Carolina's DOJ Settled With Opioid Profiteers

Two new lawsuits have been resolved in North Carolina's quest for justice against opioid profiteers. In a bid to combat the devastating grip of opioid addiction, the North Carolina Department of Justice has resolved two more groundbreaking multistate settlements for their role in the opioid epidemic. These suits were seeking justice for the opioid epidemic and peddlers of Oxycontin, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle against opioid abuse.

Publicis Health's Lawsuit and Role in the Epidemic

The more significant settlement, a colossal $350 million national agreement with Publicis Health, stands as a resolute response to the toxic role of marketing and communication firms in fueling the opioid crisis.

Publicis, a global powerhouse in the realm of marketing, found itself entangled in a web of controversy for its role in promoting prescription opioids. Serving as the marketing arm for pharmaceutical giants like Purdue Pharma, Publicis played a significant role in amplifying the reach of drugs like OxyContin, contributing to the epidemic's terrifying growth.

As part of the lawsuit's settlement terms, Publicis has committed to a groundbreaking step towards transparency by unveiling thousands of internal documents on a public platform.

These lawsuit documents shed light on the intricate workings of its collaboration with opioid manufacturers, offering a sobering glimpse into the strategies employed to market these highly addictive substances.

Publicis has pledged to sever ties with any future projects related to opioid-based controlled substances, signaling a definitive break from its dark past.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals Played a Role As Well

In parallel, the $150 million lawsuit settlement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals marks another crucial milestone in the fight against opioid abuse. Hikma, a significant player in the pharmaceutical landscape, found itself under scrutiny for its role in perpetuating the crisis.

The settlement, which includes a substantial cash component along with opioid addiction treatment medication, underscores the collective commitment to providing tangible support to affected communities.

Continued Fallout and Lawsuits for Opioid Profiteers

The significance of these settlements extends far beyond monetary payouts. They represent a collective acknowledgment of the catastrophic toll exacted by the opioid epidemic, with more than 36,000 lives lost in North Carolina alone between 2000 and 2022.

Spearheaded by a coalition of attorneys general from across the nation, these settlements stand as a testament to the power of unified action in confronting complex societal challenges.

By holding accountable entities responsible for perpetuating the crisis, these agreements pave the way for a more comprehensive approach to tackling opioid addiction. They serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for continued vigilance and concerted efforts to stem the tide of this deadly epidemic. Lawsuits are one of the only ways drugmakers can be held accountable for so many deaths.

The Evolution of the Opioid Epidemic

The lawsuits seek to right the wrongs that have been taking place since the advent of Oxycontin in the 1990s. The evolution of opioid addiction from the 1990s to the 2020s paints a stark picture of the devastation caused by irresponsible pharmaceutical companies and their marketers.

The 1990s marked the onset of a crisis fueled by the widespread prescription of opioids, driven by a misguided belief in their safety and efficacy for managing pain. This era saw a surge in the prescription of drugs like OxyContin, hailed as a panacea for chronic pain but ultimately laying the groundwork for a spiraling epidemic of addiction and overdose. Lawsuits have revealed that marketers lied to doctors and other professionals about the safety of opioid medications. Instead, they focused on encouraging doctors to prescribe a large volume of drugs a variety of pain patients, many who did not need such potent painkillers.

As the grip of opioid addiction tightened its hold on communities across North Carolina, the repercussions were profound and far-reaching. Lawsuits seek to right these wrongs by providing more opportunities for treatment and recovery.

Families were torn apart, communities were ravaged, and lives were tragically cut short as the death toll climbed steadily year after year. The profound impact of this crisis reverberated through every facet of society, straining healthcare systems, overwhelming law enforcement agencies, and exacting an immeasurable toll on the fabric of communities.

Fentanyl Makes Its Mark in the 2020s

As efforts to stem the tide of opioid addiction began to gain traction, a new and even more insidious threat emerged on the horizon: fentanyl. In the 2020s, fentanyl surged to the forefront of the opioid crisis, presenting a potent and lethal addition to an already complex landscape of addiction.

Highly powerful and clandestinely manufactured, fentanyl poses a grave danger to individuals struggling with addiction, amplifying the risk of overdose and death to unprecedented levels.

Fentanyl's pervasiveness has cast a long shadow over North Carolina's public health landscape, exacerbating an already dire situation and presenting new challenges for communities. Because it is highly addictive, fentanyl threatens to undo the hard-won progress made in combating opioid addiction. It poses a formidable barrier to efforts aimed at curbing the crisis. There are currently no lawsuits against the drugmaker who markets this product.

More Work in Addiction and Recovery is Needed

In the face of these daunting challenges, the need for a comprehensive and coordinated response has never been more urgent. Expanding access to evidence-based treatment and harm reduction services are just a few to-dos for most states grappling with this crisis.

Law enforcement also works on targeted interventions to disrupt the supply chain of illicit opioids; addressing the dual scourges of opioid and fentanyl addiction requires a multifaceted approach.

In North Carolina, as in communities across the nation, the fight against opioid and fentanyl addiction is far from over. It requires unwavering commitment, steadfast resolve, and a collective determination. Yet, in the face of adversity, there is hope – hope for healing, hope for recovery, and hope for a brighter future for all those impacted by addiction.

Getting Help for Addiction

We offer drug rehab for fentanyl addiction that includes medication assistance to minimize cravings. Asking for help is often the most challenging first step, but we want to help! You deserve to live a fulfilling and substance-free life. Please get in touch if you want to learn more about your options and how we can help. We are happy to answer questions! Medication-Assisted Treatment is available for clients who qualify.