Opioid-Related Disorder

Results showed patients with opioid-related disorders had increased rates of ED visits, hospitalizations and opioid and antidepressant prescriptions compared with patients without the condition, despite similar rates of adverse events.

Recently, two Ohio counties settled with opioid distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson for $215 million in cash just hours before going to trial. A fourth defendant, Teva, agreed to pay $20 million and provide $25 million worth of the opioid substitution therapy buprenorphine, according to the Los Angeles Times. Lawyers and doctors who are following the lawsuit said the settlements will fall well short of resolving the opioid epidemic.