prescription drug abuse News

Walmart Offers to Pay $3.1 billion to Settle Opioid Lawsuits

Walmart proposed a $3.1 billion legal settlement on Tuesday over the toll of powerful prescription opioids sold at its pharmacies, becoming the latest major drug industry player to promise major support to state, local and tribal governments still grappling with …

Impact of Prescription Drug Abuse Felt by Many Indiana Businesses

The majority of Indiana companies that responded to a survey tied to the state’s growing woes with prescription medication abuse say their businesses are being affected by workplace abuse or misuse of those drugs, according to findings released Monday. About …

New England Politicians Speak Out Against Prescription Opioid Abuse

Political leaders from across New England met with business leaders recently to discuss ways to combat New England’s deadly opioid addiction problem, including tightening regulations around prescription painkillers. In addition, Massachusetts’ top medical schools said they’ve reached an agreement with …

Opioid Abuse Rises in Construction, Manufacturing Sectors: CNA

CNA recently issued two new reports that examine the growing prescription opioid abuse epidemic and its effect on the U.S. workforce, focusing on the construction and manufacturing industries, which are particularly at risk for such abuse. The reports, Construction: Prescription …

Survey Finds Doctors Misunderstand Opioid Abuse, Continue Overprescribing

Many primary care physicians – the top prescribers of prescription pain pills in the United States – don’t understand basic facts about how people may abuse the drugs or how addictive different formulations of the medications can be, new Johns …

Reformulated OxyContin Doesn’t Stop Illicit Use

A reformulation of OxyContin that makes it harder to abuse has curtailed the drug’s illicit use. But some 25 percent of drug abusers entering rehab said they still abused the prescription painkiller despite package labeling that emphasizes its abuse-deterrent properties, …

Texas Officials Want Drug Database Moved From DPS

Some Texas lawmakers say prescription drugs can be bettered monitored by moving the state’s database out of the Department of Public Safety. House and Senate committees that studied the issue recommend that the State Board of Pharmacy take over the …

South Carolina Database Could Stem Prescription Drug Abuse

A council created by Gov. Nikki Haley says requiring doctors to use a statewide database to check their patients’ prescription history can reduce the rampant abuse of painkillers in South Carolina. The governor’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Council on Monday …

Massachusetts Prosecutor to Begin Holiday OUI and Drug Campaign

Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey and local police and fire chiefs are starting holiday campaigns against drunken driving and prescription drug abuse. Morrissey, other public safety officials, the Norfolk County Prescription Drug Task Force and the Alcoholic Beverage Control …

Study Examines Doctors’ Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

As prescription drug abuse and overdose have escalated nationwide, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) were implemented in every state, but little is known about the types of clinicians who make the most use of PDMPs. Researchers from Oregon Health and …