Join Us Today: CEPOP Webinar on Safe Disposal Strategies
At 1:00pm today, November 18, CEPOP will be hosting a national webinar focused on safe disposal strategies to help address prescription opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription opioids and implications for the broader response to the nation’s opioid epidemic. We encourage you to join us for this important discussion and please feel free to share this invitation with your friends and colleagues.
Speakers will include:
- Dr. Chad Brummett, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Director of Anesthesia Clinical Research at the University of Michigan Medical School
- Dr. Jennifer Cooper, Principal Investigator, Center for Surgical Outcomes Research & Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice, Nationwide Children’s Hospital at The Ohio State University
- General Arthur T. Dean, Chairman and CEO, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
WebEx Coordinates:
Join via computer
Conference Line: (855) 244-8681
Participant Code: 624 865 439
Any questions or RSVPs can be directed towards Matt Rubin.
Articles/Resources
OK Judge Amends J&J Opioid Verdict by $107M to $465M
$572 million judgment was reduced to $465 million while simultaneously rejecting any further reduction in the payout based upon prior settlements that the state had reached with Purdue Pharma and Teva Pharmaceuticals in advance of the trial. At the same time, Balkman also rejected a request by the state to extend payments by the manufacturer out beyond one year – an issue raised by Balkman in the final judgment around the State’s failure to outline the anticipated costs to abate the epidemic in the state beyond one year.
Articles & Resources
Washington Post – Oklahoma Judge Lowers Johnson & Johnson Payment in Opioid Verdict
Associated Press – Oklahoma Judge Reduces J&J Order in Opioid Lawsuit By $107M
The Hill – Oklahoma Judge Reduces Opioid Verdict Against Johnson & Johnson
DEA Subpoenas Colorado Pharmacy Board for PDMP Data
Early last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration sued the Colorado Board of Pharmacy and its Executive Director following the latter’s refusal to share patient information collected through its prescription drug monitoring program. The DEA claims the information from the PDMP will be used to help investigate two pharmacies for alleged improper prescribing and dispensing of opioids and other controlled substances. Citing privacy concerns, however, the Board of Pharmacy has refused to share the data. The case demonstrates the keen balance between patient data privacy and the need for actionable data to carry out investigations and link the prescribing data to real-world harms.
Articles & Resources
POLITICO – Colorado Resists DEA Subpoena for PDMP Data
Associated Press – Agency Sues Colorado Pharmacy Board for Prescription Data
The Colorado Sun – Why the DEA is Suing Colorado’s Pharmacy Board as Part of an Opioid Investigation
What We Read Last Week
Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the issue. Links to relevant articles are provided below.
Articles & Resources
United Hospital Fund – State-by-State Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Children Detailed
LA Times – USC Student Deaths: Possible Drug Overdoses, Tainted Narcotics Probed, Sources Say
Kaiser Health News – How Germany Averted an Opioid Crisis
Bloomberg Law – Opioid ‘Negotiation Class’ Experiment Draws Sixth Circuit Eye
Department of Justice – Owner of Detroit-Area Health Care Clinics Pleads Guilty to Drug Diversion Scheme
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida – Three South Florida Residents Plead Guilty for Their Roles in $21 Million Sober Homes Fraud Scheme
U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut – Owner of California Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Charged in Scheme to Defraud ACA Programs
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa – Opioid Traffickers Sentenced
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California – Monterey County Doctor And Four Others Charged In Alleged Scheme To Distribute Opioids Outside Scope Of Legitimate Medical Practice
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia – Pain Management Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Prescribing Drugs
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in Ohio – Scioto County Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years In Prison for Role in Pill Mill
This Week’s Calendar – No Opioid Events Noticed
The House and Senate will be in town on regular business following Monday off for the Veteran’s Day Holiday. At this time, however, there are no relevant hearings or events related to opioids on the calendar. Should there be any additions to House or Senate schedules or updates with respect to additional events, this information will be made available.
The American Brain Coalition, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus
The Role of Science in Overcoming the Opioid Crisis
Tuesday, November 19th; 10:30am – 12:00pm; 2168 Rayburn HOB
National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC) and the Congressional Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus (ATR)
The Real Dangers of Equating Opioid Dependence with Addiction
Tuesday, November 19th; 1:30pm – 3:30pm; U.S. Capitol Visitors Center Room 268
Questions about the above content can be directed to [email protected].