Latest News On Opioids

Latest ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Stories

Maker of Device To Treat Addiction Withdrawal Seeks Counties’ Opioid Settlement Cash

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Some researchers and recovery advocates see the NET device as the latest in a series of products pitched as the solution to the addiction crisis that have been overhyped to capitalize on money from the opioid settlements.

Inside the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

The experiences of one doctor in Louisiana reveal the tensions around trying to get people to engage in addiction treatment, even if they’re not ready to stop using drugs.

What the Health? From ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News: The GOP Still Can’t Agree on a Health Plan

Podcast

Senate Democrats were promised a vote by mid-December on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, but Republicans still can’t decide whether they want to put forward their own alternative or what that might include. Meanwhile, the CDC and FDA are roiled by debates over vaccines. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post join ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more. Also, Rovner interviews ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News’ Aneri Pattani about her project tracking opioid settlement payments.

Journalists Shed Light on Opioid Settlement Cash, New Medicaid Work Requirements

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

From Narcan to Gun Silencers, Opioid Settlement Cash Pays Law Enforcement Tabs

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Local governments have received hundreds of millions of dollars from the opioid settlements to support addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts. Their spending decisions in 2024 were sometimes surprising and even controversial. Our new database offers more than 10,500 examples.

Sock Hops and Concerts: How Some Places Spent Opioid Settlement Cash

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

States, counties, and cities are receiving millions in opioid settlement money to address the addiction crisis. The ways they spent the dollars in 2024 sometimes drew criticism from advocates and at least one state official, who alleged misuse.

‘Demon Copperhead’ Author Lays Foundation for Women in Appalachia To Beat Addiction

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Barbara Kingsolver won a Pulitzer Prize for her bestselling novel about Appalachia’s drug crisis. She invested some of the proceeds into a home for women trying to beat substance use disorders.

Optum Rx Invokes Open Meetings Law To Fight Kentucky Counties on Opioid Suits

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

In a Goliath-versus-David fight, UnitedHealth Group’s pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, has filed lawsuits in five counties to stop them from including the company in national opioid litigation.

Who’s Policing Opioid Settlement Spending? A Crowdsourced Database Might Help

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Billions in opioid settlement money was meant to be spent on treating and preventing addiction — but what happens if it’s misspent? Some advocates say attorneys general need to pay closer attention. If they don’t, a new tool might empower the public.

Journalists Break Down Reconciliation Bill, Vaccine Panel Meeting, and ‘Dobbs’ Anniversary

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Opioid Settlement Windfall: Where the Billions Are Going

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have been paying billions of dollars to settle lawsuits over their role in the overdose epidemic. How to spend the money remains an open question.

Journalists Explore Medicaid Work Rules, CDC Layoffs, and RFK Jr.’s ‘MAHA’ Mission

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News journalists made the rounds on national or local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

For Opioid Victims, Payouts Fall Short While Governments Reap Millions

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the nation’s opioid crisis are paying state and local governments billions of dollars in legal settlements. But how much are victims who suffered addiction and overdoses getting?

Hit Hard by Opioid Crisis, Black Patients Further Hurt by Barriers to Care

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

The rate of overdose deaths from opioids has grown significantly among Black people. Yet, even after a nonfatal overdose, this group is half as likely to be referred to or get treatment compared with white people. Advocates and researchers cite implicit bias, insurance denials, and other systemic issues.

Journalists Talk Public Health Data Under Trump, Therapists’ Discontent With Insurers

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News journalists made the rounds on national and local media this week to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Opioid Cash Grab: As Federal Funding Dries Up, States Turn to Settlement Money

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

Nevada’s budget debate highlights how uncertainty over funding for federal safety net programs may lead some officials to turn to opioid settlement dollars to make up the difference.

An Ice Rink To Fight Opioid Crisis: Drug-Free Fun vs. Misuse of Settlement Cash

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News Original

A decision about how to spend settlement funds in Carter County, Kentucky, which was hit hard by the opioid epidemic, offers a window into the choices that surround this windfall.