Fewer beds and greater expenses are kneecapping addiction treatment facilities just as the need is about to rise.
addiction
Posted inHealth
DeLauro focuses on health risks of vaping as lung disease stumps CDC
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, who has asked federal regulators to take e-cigarettes off the shelves, tackled the twin threats posed by teen vaping and an epidemic of lung injuries.
Posted inJustice
CT asks judge to reject bankruptcy shield for Purdue, Sacklers
“Purdue is not entitled to enter bankruptcy as a means to evade responsibility for the suffering and death they have inflicted on our country,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.
Posted inHealth
CT files new allegations against Purdue, Sacklers in opioid lawsuit
The amended lawsuit says Purdue and the Sacklers told doctors addiction was “not caused by drugs,” but instead was the result of “susceptible individuals.”
Posted inHealth
Jepsen tells CT towns to drop their opioid lawsuits
As Purdue Pharma considers bankruptcy to limit its liability, former Attorney General George Jepsen says states, not cities or towns, should pursue opioid lawsuits.
Posted inHealth
Congress moves towards approval of massive anti-opioid bill
WASHINGTON – Congress is finally close to passing a comprehensive bill to combat opioid abuse, combining law enforcement and public health measures, including making addiction services more accessible. The massive bill, which includes provisions introduced by dozens of lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, is considered a rare bipartisan accomplishment.
Posted inHealth
CT opioid lawsuits advancing in face of settlement effort
WASHINGTON — Nearly two dozen Connecticut cities and towns are scheduled to soon confront Purdue Phama and other opioid makers in court over what they say are the pharmaceuticals’ deceptive practices. Meanwhile, there is an effort by a federal judge in Ohio to negotiate a massive settlement for the hundreds of federal lawsuits across the nation targeting the opioid makers for their marketing practices.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Growing number of states press opioid suits against Stamford’s Purdue Pharma
Updated at 10:15 a.m. with industry comment
WASHINGTON — Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, the maker of pain-killer OxyContin, is the target of an increasing number of suits by states, counties and cities alleging it is partly to blame for the nation’s opioid epidemic. The lawsuits are all different and some include other pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies as defendants. But Purdue is nearly always a main defendant.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT Dems take stand on opioid funding – and lose
WASHINGTON — Despite protests and high drama over the level of money the federal government will spend fighting heroin addiction and prescription pain pill abuse, Democrats lost their battle this week to increase federal funds by nearly $1 billion to pay for additional treatment for addicts.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Feds release opioid prescription guidelines
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released long-awaited guidelines for prescribing opioid-based pain medicine, but it’s not clear how closely doctors will follow them.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
A budget built on the bones of Connecticut’s youth
Rationality devoid of humanity often masks cruelty. “I was only following orders,” is a problematic justification. Which brings me to Gov. Dannel Malloy’s proposed budget and the disproportionate gutting of behavioral health services in Connecticut. This in the midst of an epidemic of heroin and opioid abuse and an unprecedented number of overdose deaths.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Governors ask for money, share strategies to combat opioid crisis
WASHINGTON — The nation’s governors have pressed the federal government for money to help them combat the opioid abuse and heroin addiction that has resulted in a spike of overdoses and strained state public health systems. They also shared with the Obama administration and each other policies they’ve implemented to confront the crisis.
Posted inPolitics
Congress takes aim at epidemic of opioid abuse
WASHINGTON — After states have spent years grappling with the problem, Congress may finally address the epidemic of heroin use and abuse of prescription pain killers which has affected Connecticut and the rest of New England more than much of the country.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT policy recovering welfare benefits damages poor families
Government assistance should not be treated as a loan, and the law that allows the state to seize the estates of deceased welfare recipients hurts the surviving family members — the very people public assistance is supposed to help lift out of poverty. The law should be changed.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: Connecticut can do more to address substance use disorder
Gov. Dannel Malloy has done a lot to prevent fatal overdoses, but more can be done. He has recently proposed a bill that will make Narcan more widely available by allowing pharmacists to prescribe it to Connecticut families, first responders and the treatment community directly from pharmacies. It should be adopted.