Two major stories in the news recently came from the plague of intentionally over-prescribed opioids that swept our country. In one, Johnson&Johnson was hit with a $572 million fine, and in the other the Sackler family proposed a $10-12$ billion settlement that included their sale of Purdue Pharmaceuticals. Are these numbers reasonable? Everyone knows the opioid epidemic was bad, but we may not all be aware exactly how bad it was, and still is. As these stories develop we thought context might be useful, so this month we bring you interactive maps showing exactly where the opioids went nationwide, a story on just what happened here on the Oregon Coast, and more statistics that illustrate exactly what these companies are settling over…
Click here for an interactive map of how many opioid pills were distributed at each pharmacy in the US.
Pharmaceutical Companies Flooded the Oregon Coast With an Ocean of Pain Pills
The Oregon Coast fits the demographic profile most commonly associated with opioid addiction.
Digging Deeper…
Johnson & Johnson Was Ordered to Pay $572 Million for Its Role in the Opioid Crisis. With Similar Lawsuits Across the Country, That Could Be Just the Beginning, Sanya Mansoor in Time Magazine, Aug 2019
How many pain pills went to your pharmacy? Emamdjomeh, Ba Tran, Williams, Rindler, and Meko on Washington Post, Aug 2019
Pharmaceutical Companies Flooded the Oregon Coast With an Ocean of Pain Pills, Katie shepherd in Willamette Week, July 2019
What is the U.S. Opioid Epidemic? Website, US Department of Health and Human Services
Opioid Overdose Crisis, Website, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Overdose Death Rates, Website, National Institute on Drug Abuse
Opioid Overdose- Understanding the Epidemic, Website, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
7 Staggering Statistics About America’s Opioid Epidemic, Website, American Physical Therapy Association
