Oregon sues oxycontin maker, saying it minimized risks
Spokesman Bob Josephson said the [State of Oregon] was inappropriately substituting its judgment for the judgment of experts at U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum charged that Purdue has engaged in racketeering and misleading activity over the last decade.
A spokesman at Purdue Pharma, Robert Josephson (who describes himself on LinkedIN as “deep and rich knowledge in all aspects of external and internal communications, demonstrated by successful aptitude in developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies and tactical plans”), targeted by Thursday’s [Sept. 13th, 2018] lawsuit in Multnomah Circuit Court, denied the allegations … The complaint also says that starting in 2008, when Purdue submitted renewal registration applications with the Oregon Pharmacy Board, the company falsely answered “no” when asked if it had experienced any state or federal disciplinary action. Purdue had just been sued by the Oregon Attorney General and charged criminally by the federal government, the Oregon lawsuit says.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, using data available for analysis on September 5, 2018, there were a reported 70,652 deaths attributed to drug overdose in the US for the year ending December 2017. Opioids were detected in 47,863 reported deaths, and are predicted to be involved in 49,031 deaths. Synthetic opioids, excluding methadone, were detected in 28,644 reported deaths, and are predicted to be involved in 28,644 deaths.
Original Article (Register Guard, The State, Drug War Facts):
Oregon sues OxyContin maker, saying it minimized risks, The causes of death, The State
Artwork Fair Use: M.O. Stevens