Opioid Litigation in New York

Our NY Trial Attorneys Are Fighting the Opioid Crisis

The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 10.3 million people misused prescription opioids in 2018 alone, and an estimated 130 people die every single day from opioid-related drug overdoses. Opioid prescriptions in the U.S. have increased by 300% since 1999. In response to the growing opioid epidemic, HHS declared a public health emergency on October 26, 2017, under the direction of the White House.

Who is responsible for the rampant abuse of prescription opioids in the U.S.? This is a question that needs answering, and Sultzer & Lipari is currently working to represent the interests of plaintiffs in cases against drug manufacturers and others who may hold the blame. Our team of seasoned litigators is seeking answers and accountability to recoup the significant losses caused by opioid addiction in America.

To learn more about opioid litigation and the steps our NY trial lawyers are taking to hold at-fault parties accountable, call (800) 552-0265 or contact us online.

Prescription Opioid Use in the U.S.

Opioid is a term broadly used to describe an opiate or a drug containing narcotic properties similar to opium. Naturally occurring opioids include codeine and morphine. Synthetic opioids include fentanyl, methadone, and tramadol. Manmade opioids can be particularly dangerous due to their potency. Fentanyl, for example, is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.

Prescription and non-prescription opioids have seen increased rates of use – and abuse – since the late 1990s, when pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that there was no addiction risk in patients taking prescription opioids for pain relief. Healthcare providers started prescribing opioids at an increased rate, signifying the beginning of what would become an epidemic to sweep the entire nation.

The following are examples of generic and brand name prescription opioids:

• Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• Hydrocodone (Hysingla, Zohydro ER)
• Oxycodone (OxyContin, Oxaydo)
• Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Abstral, Onsolis)
• Codeine
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo)
• Morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Morphabond)
• Oxycodone/Acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet)
• Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
• Meperidine (Demerol)
• Oxycodone/Naloxone

Any person who takes prescription opioids can become addicted. According to a study cited by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about 21-29% of patients misuse opioids prescribed for chronic pain management. At Sultzer & Lipari, we believe that the pharmaceutical companies that downplayed the addictive nature of prescription opioids should be held responsible for the resulting overdoses, deaths, addiction, and economic losses.

Hundreds of Jurisdictions File Opioid Lawsuits

Hundreds of city, county, and state governments have filed opioid lawsuits against individuals and companies in the opioid manufacturing and healthcare industries. Manufacturers, distributors, medical professionals, and healthcare facilities are under scrutiny for downplaying the risk of addiction in patients using prescription opioids and for overprescribing opioid medications.

On an individual level, opioid addiction can lead to financial train, job loss, damaged personal and professional relationships, and serious health issues. In extreme cases, it can lead to overdose and death. On a national level, the economic cost of the opioid crisis was estimated to total more than $1 trillion from 2001 through 2017, according to a study by Altarum, a nonprofit research and consulting company focusing on the health of the vulnerable and publicly insured.

Contact Our NY Opioid Crisis Lawyers

As a representative of a municipality, county, state, city, or other government entity, you have a responsibility to protect the well-being of the people in your community. If you would like to learn more about what you can do to join the legal battle against the opioid crisis, you can schedule a free consultation with the New York opioid litigation team at Sultzer & Lipari.

Contact us online or call (800) 552-0265 for more information.