opioids

Jackie Fortier / StateImpact Oklahoma

5:18pm May 27, 2019

National National Health & Safety

'This Case Will Set A Precedent': First Major Opioid Trial To Begin In Oklahoma

by Jackie Fortier

Oklahoma's trial is the first in a wave of litigation attempting to bring claims against opioid manufacturers. The state is seeking millions of dollars in damages and penalties.

Listen
Boston Globe via Getty Images

9:34pm May 08, 2019

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Addiction Kills More Blacks, But Treatment Is Prescribed Mostly To Whites

by Martha Bebinger

A study looked at who gets prescriptions for buprenorphine, and found that white patients are almost 35 times as likely to get the lifesaving addiction treatment than African Americans.

Listen
Robin Lubbock/WBUR

7:13am Apr 20, 2019

National National Health & Safety

Prison For Forced Addiction Treatment? A Parent's 'Last Resort' Has Consequences

by Deborah Becker

Thousands of Massachusetts residents have been committed to treatment for addiction against their will. Some families say locking up addicts in prison isn't treatment. Others say it saves lives.
Blake Farmer / WPLN

10:45pm Apr 19, 2019

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Amid Opioid Prescriber Crackdown, Health Officials Reach Out To Pain Patients

by Blake Farmer

After dozens of health care workers were charged with illegally prescribing opioids in Appalachia, local health agencies are trying to make sure chronic pain patients don't fall through the cracks.

Listen
Natalie Piserchio for NPR

10:46am Apr 13, 2019

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Supporters Sue To Open Safe Injection Site In Philadelphia, Citing Religious Freedom

by Bobby Allyn

A Philadelphia group hopes to open a site for people to use drugs under medical supervision. Faced with legal challenges, the group is making a moral and religious case for its proposed facility.

Listen
3:38pm Apr 12, 2019

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Fact Check: NC Doesn't Have The Second-Most Drug Overdose Deaths

by Paul Specht

To reduce opioid overdose deaths, North Carolina lawmakers want to crack down on the people who distribute them.

Listen
Steven Senne / AP

9:19pm Apr 05, 2019

National National Health & Safety

Criminal Trial Of Opioid-Peddling Drug Company Execs Goes To The Jury

by Gabrielle Emanuel

The 10-week trial of five executives from Insys Therapeutics wrapped up in Boston on Friday. The executives are accused of bribing doctors and deceiving insurance companies to boost opioid sales.

Listen
Salwan Georges / Washington Post/Getty Images

10:29am Mar 21, 2019

National National Science Health & Safety

Fentanyl-Linked Deaths: The U.S. Opioid Epidemic's Third Wave Begins

by Martha Bebinger

Overdose deaths involving fentanyl are rising — up 113 percent on average each year from 2013 to 2016. Dealers are adding cheap fentanyl to the illicit drug supply, and some users get it accidentally.

Listen
Jackie Hai / KJZZ

9:39pm Mar 19, 2019

National National Science Health & Safety

Aspiring Doctors Seek Advanced Training In Addiction Medicine

by Will Stone

Once a tiny specialty that drew mostly psychiatrists, addiction medicine is expanding its accredited training to include residents from specialties like family medicine who see it as a calling.

Listen
Drew Angerer / Getty Images

10:35am Mar 13, 2019

Health & Safety Health & Safety

Opioid Litigation Brings Company Secrets Into The Public Eye

by Brian Mann

Lawsuits over the way drugmakers have marketed opioids are already putting a dent in companies' reputations. Litigation has forced the release of internal documents that are shifting the narrative.

Listen
Image Source / Getty Images

3:46pm Feb 12, 2019

Books Books Arts Health & Safety

A Neuroscientist Explores The Biology Of Addiction In 'Never Enough'

by Terry Gross

Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now as a neuroscientist, she's working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is Never Enough.

Listen
Emma Lee / WHYY

3:47pm Feb 06, 2019

National National Health & Safety

U.S. Prosecutors Sue To Stop Nation's First Supervised Injection Site For Opioids

by Bobby Allyn

The U.S. government is intervening to stop the creation of a medical facility in Philadelphia where people could inject heroin without risk of overdose. Canada and Europe already have such sites.