How the Purdue opioid settlement could help the public understand the roots of the drug crisis

The multibillion-dollar settlement will trigger the release of troves of documents that may shine new light on what caused the opioid crisis.

Antoine Lentacker, Assistant Professor of History, University of California, Riverside • conversation
Sept. 1, 2021 • ~10 min

Opioid lawsuit payout plans overlook a vital need: pain management care and research focused on smarter use of addictive drugs

Ending the opioid epidemic requires addressing not only treatment gaps in addiction and overdose, but also inadequate pain management.

Mark C. Bicket, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan • conversation
Aug. 20, 2021 • ~9 min

Opioid overdoses spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Pennsylvania show

The start of one new public health crisis didn't mean the end of another.

Ruchi Patel, Ph.D. Student in Geography, Penn State • conversation
June 14, 2021 • ~8 min

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma may settle legal claims with a new 'public trust' that would still be dedicated to profit

The government has tried to harness profit-driven drugmaking to serve public health before. The results were underwhelming.

David Herzberg, Associate Professor of History, University at Buffalo • conversation
Oct. 21, 2020 • ~10 min

A researcher reflects on progress fighting hepatitis C – and a path forward

The 2020 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine goes to the discoverers of the hepatitis C virus. There's an effective cure but homelessness and the opioid epidemic are driving a surge in infections.

Anna Suk-Fong Lok, Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan • conversation
Oct. 5, 2020 • ~11 min

Addiction treatment shrinks during the pandemic, leaving people with nowhere to turn

COVID-19 plagues an overtaxed opioid addiction treatment system.

Elizabeth Chiarello, Associate Professor of Sociology, Saint Louis University • conversation
Sept. 3, 2020 • ~9 min

People with substance use disorders face greater challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic

The crisis has made recovery more difficult for those with substance use disorders. The inability to get to support group meetings, stress and illness are just some of the factors.

Melissa S. Fry, Director, Applied Research and Education Center & Associate Professor of Sociology, Indiana University • conversation
May 19, 2020 • ~10 min

Pharmacists could be front-line fighters in battle against opioid epidemic

Pharmacists are well positioned to provide communities with a lifesaving drug.

Victoria Tutag Lehr, Professor of Pharmacy, Wayne State University • conversation
April 21, 2020 • ~7 min

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