Big Brands and their Involvement in the Opioid Crisis

While the Sackler family and the opioid epidemic have continued to make headlines for their involvement in the opioid epidemic, other companies are facing legal ramifications for their alleged involvement in the epidemic as well.

Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are being targeted by court cases for their loose distribution of opioid painkillers, with the number of prescription pill bottles outnumbering the population of one town they were distributed in. ¹

More companies are facing court cases for their alleged involvement in the opioid epidemic and its deadly effects that have been resulting in staggering numbers of overdoses nationwide. We explore the latest in opioid epidemic lawsuits that are aiming to hold companies responsible for the opioid epidemic.

The Newest Opioid Epidemic Lawsuits

New lawsuits are aiming to hold companies responsible for their alleged responsibility in the opioid epidemic. These lawsuits cite many instances in which companies knew about the dangers of opioids, but continued to prescribe them anyway, often in the pursuit of greater profits.

When considering pharmaceutical involvement in the opioid epidemic, it’s shocking to see evidence of internal communications in companies that were aware of the dangers of opioids but continued to push these deadly prescription drugs.

In the latest of the opioid epidemic lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson is being scrutinized for its alleged involvement in the opioid epidemic, with one key witness in the case claiming that Johnson & Johnson was “worse” than Purdue, a pharmaceutical company that’s become notorious for its involvement in the epidemic. ²

This key witness stated that Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary companies "created, grew, imported and supplied to J&J and its other co-conspirators, including Purdue, the narcotic raw materials necessary to manufacture the opioid pain medications thrust upon the unsuspecting public since the 1990s."²

Johnson & Johnson has denied wrongdoing in this case.

Getting Treatment for Painkiller Addiction

Though companies are now being held accountable for their contribution to the opioid epidemic and the opioid epidemic shows signs of slowing, there are still thousands of people who are struggling with active opioid addiction.

At Banyan Treatment Centers Massachusetts, we’re here to help you get sober. Call 888-280-4763 to get started on getting sober.

Sources:

1. NY Times - 3,271 Pill Bottles, a Town of 2,831: Court Filings Say Corporations Fed Opioid Epidemic
2. CNN - Expert witness: Johnson & Johnson's role in opioid crisis may be 'worse' than Purdue's