As concern grows over the rise in opioid related deaths, we must also consider how the drugs affect the youngest victims and the link to birth defects in developing babies. The damages wrought by the opioid epidemic continue to increase. The American Medical Association reports that the number of deaths directly related to synthetic opioids…

The first Perrin Opioid Litigation Conference was held in Dallas, Texas on June 28, 2018, focused on bringing together speakers from all sides to assess the issues surrounding an increasing number of opioid epidemic-related lawsuits.  Lawyers, doctors, psychologists, insurers, and analysts gathered to take a close look at the current state of litigation filed to…

Going forward, Purdue will halt promotion of opioids to doctors. Privately held pharmaceutical manufacturer Purdue says that it will no longer market OxyContin, the most sold opioid painkiller in the world, to doctors. Multiple lawsuits blame the pharmaceutical company for helping to trigger the opioid epidemic and are putting pressure on Purdue. This has led…

Larger doses may not be the problem in the opioid crisis. According to a study of over one million commercially insured patients, the length of opioid prescriptions rather than the dosage is the prime determinant of ongoing opioid misuse among surgical patients. Misuse is defined as dependence, abuse, and/or overdose. Patients were considered opioid-naïve if…