Justice Dept. to target opioid manufacturers, distributors in new push to curb deadly epidemic

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Health & Science

Justice Dept. to target opioid manufacturers, distributors in new push to curb deadly epidemic

By Lenny Bernstein, Katie Zezima and Sari Horwitz February 27 at 2:33 PM Email the author

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Tuesday creation of a new task force focused specifically on targeting opioid manufacturers and distributors, and holding them accountable for unlawful practices.

The Justice Department also filed a statement of interest in a case involving hundreds of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Sessions said the Justice Department will argue that the federal government has borne substantial costs from the opioid epidemic and it seeks reimbursement. The case includes numerous cities, municipalities and medical institutions.

Opioid abuse is driving the deadliest drug crisis in American history, said Sessions at a news conference with several U.S. attorneys. It has strained our public health and law enforcement resources and bankrupted countless families across this country.
....

Laurie McGinley contributed to this report.

Lenny Bernstein covers health and medicine. He started as an editor on The Washington Posts National desk in 2000 and has worked in Metro and Sports. Follow @LennyMBernstein

Katie Zezima is a national correspondent covering drugs, guns, gambling and vice in America. She covered the 2016 election and the Obama White House for The Washington Post. Follow @katiezez

Sari Horwitz covers the Justice Department, law enforcement and criminal justice issues nationwide for The Washington Post, where she has been a reporter for 33 years. Follow @sarihorwitz

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/justice-dept-to-target-opioid-manufacturers-distributors-in-new-push-to-curb-deadly-epidemic/2018/02/27/817089fa-1bd4-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html

---

Hat tip, C-Span: https://www.c-span.org/video/?441810-1/justice-department-announces-opioid-policy

[Iliyah]

1. Nope, it's a con . . . . .

These are comrades of the GOPs.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. i don't understand

why there is so much physical pain nowadays? where was this epidemic of pain from 1910 to 2000?

[yallerdawg]

3. Any other epidemic...

they ought to be looking at?

MORE legal opiates should fix this problem!

[Marthe48]

4. recent short-term opioid prescription cost

7 cents a pill (Medicare + health insurance). My everyday b/p meds costs 50 cents a pill. If the opioids are that cheap for everyone, and the street value of each pill is $5 +, is that part of the problem? If I had a limited or low income, it would be tempting to sell what I didn't need.

[rockfordfile]

5. Now if they would do the same to gun manufactures.

[MrScorpio]

6. Mexican heroin dealers just threw a fiesta

Big profits from here on out if Trump can reduce the supply of Big Pharma’s product without reducing demand.

All this will do is cause more death and destruction in the poppy fields of Mexico and bring back heroin to America’s streets.

Here comes the new drug war, baby.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Never mind that many of the states are doing this already

Better late than never I guess.