Officials wish much-hyped drug could slow state's Opium problem, however is it worth the costs?

among 2013 & 2016, dyinges from heroin overdose almostdoubled, & dyinges from prescription-Opium overdoses almostquadrupled, state public health information display . with 2016, the number had risen to 741, according to the city's section of Public Health. From 2013 to 2015, Opium-linked dyinges jumped with 16 % in Chicago's suburbs, Cook province Public Health information display . The efforts have helped the drug—that has been on the market ever ever 2006 however just won Food and Drug Administration consent for Opium curing in 2010—become a blockbuster. "The Opium epidemic is the generality significant public health & public security problem facing Illinois," the state's Opium Action outline, launched final September, stated.

Coraopolis lady gets 25 months in prison for role in prescription Opium drug ring

A Coraopolis lady has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for her role in a far-reaching prescription Opium drug ring, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said Tuesday. Chani Watkins, 26, was convicted of conspiring to acquire & purvey Opium painkillers, including oxycodone & oxymorphone — highly addictive medications contributing to the nation's Opium overdose epidemic. According to claimants, Watkins had been portion of a criminal network of drug dealers which obtained Opium painkillers & illegally distributed them to people in the Pittsburgh zone. The indictments alleged which all 18 suspects had obtained prescription painkillers paid for with Gov.-funded health care programs & then purveyed the pills for cash. Officials said which in interchange for cash, Watkins distributed Opium pills to 1 of the ring's primary dealers, Kavon Dawkins.

inexpensive meals for docs boost Opium drug discounts, tells Boston medicinal Center research

as declared in It's no mystery which some physicians who receive thousands of dollars in consulting fees from pharma companies prescribe further Opium. however even as tiny as a $13 meal could lead to further reckless prescribing practices, according to a Fresh research from Boston medicinal Center. The investigators looked at marketing exchanges in the unlock Payments db & compiled data on all Opium-linked payments to physicians, including speaking fees, consulting fees & meals. Despite the national focus on huge payments to physicians, just 436 doctors — one.seven % of those receiving marketing — took payments greater than $one,000. Ninety-2 % of Opium payments were in the form of meals, by a median Price of $13.

Did drug Inc. payments to doctors help fuel the Opium epidemic?

The findings do not evidence which payments to doctors prompted them to write further prescriptions for painkillers at a time while generality of their colleagues were cutting back. It's possible which doctors who were further inclined to prescribe Opium painkillers in the premier place were too further likely to be hired with drugmakers to give speeches, consult on medicinal issues or perform other services.

collected by :Lucy William