The Future of Healthcare in the Post-Opioid Crisis Era

Not long ago, the President of the United States declared a national emergency addressing the ongoing opioid crisis in our country. The healthcare industry has been reeling ever since in order to find an alternative method of treatment for pain relief for patients afflicted with chronic and severe pain. The FDA briefly outlined its new strategy on combating the issue head-on in their 2018 Strategic Policy roadmap.

The number one priority of the FDA is to reduce the overall dependency of the American public on opioids drugs. The approach of tackling this issue includes promoting and fostering innovation and competition in the healthcare field, empowering and educating the public about healthy lifestyle choices including their diet and health, and strengthening the FDA’s database in order to better access risk management in the healthcare field.

Alternative Treatment of Pain Management

Under the new guidelines espoused by the FDA, medical providers in the healthcare field would need to explore new less risky options in the realm of pain management. One core cause of the crisis arose from the ease of exposure to the drug.

Many doctors irresponsibly prescribed their patients strong opioid drugs for relatively minor pain or discomfort. Another strong emphasis has been placed on the transition away from an opioid congested drug market to one full of more holistic choices for patients.

The FDA has also pioneered new treatments such as Medication Assisted Treatment or MAT, which is the use of a combination of different medications in conjunction with behavioral therapy in order to treat patients with opioid dependencies. So far, three drugs have been approved for the treatment of opioid dependency including:

• Buprenorphine
• Methadone
• naltrexone.

The two-pronged approach of with prevention and treatment in tandem is the most effective method of dealing with the opioid crisis. 

The Toll of the Opioid Crisis on the American Public

Millions of Americans have been adversely affected by the opioid crisis one way or another, either they have suffered from the agony of addiction themselves or have witnessed a family member go through it. According to the CDC, nearly 218,000 have suffered overdoses from ingesting prescription opioids during the span from 1999 to 2017.

Another alarming statistic that jumps to the forefront is the staggering rise in overdose rates. The occurrence of overdose rates relating to opiate drugs shot up more than five times in 2017, as compared to 1999. On the other hand, many trends point to the declining rates of opiate prescription as an optimistic indicator for the future.

The Legal Battles Against the Opioid Crisis

Many states have been waging similar legal battles against the pharmaceuticals giants which pushed the prescription and usage of opiate drugs. Wagstaff & Cartmell have been at the forefront of the battle to serve justice against the big pharma companies operating in the state of Missouri. The damages caused by the opioid crisis amount to nearly 951 precious lives and around $1.4 million dollars per hour in damages to the state in 2017.

Patients who have been afflicted with opiate addiction due to the irresponsible prescription of opioid drugs have the right to full compensation. Plaintiffs have sought after compensation for damages resulting from unnecessary medical expenses, agony of addiction, cost of rehabilitation, possible lost wages and employment, funeral expenses in the event of an overdose, and many other cases.

Depending on the extent of your opiate addiction and the extenuating circumstances, you could be entitled to a large sum of compensation. You will never be charged a single court fee until you receive a winning verdict in your favor.

The realm of law can be awfully daunting to confront all alone. Big pharma has been able to get away with screwing over patients thanks to their legions of deceitful lawyers covering their tracks. In order to reap the full compensation you deserve from big pharmaceutical giants, you will need experienced cutthroat attorneys in your corner who will work tirelessly to ensure a winning verdict at all costs.

Call for Action

Wagstaff & Cartmell are experienced attorneys of law in the courtroom against pharma giants. They have spearheaded many successful verdicts in mass tort drugs and product liability cases collecting billions of dollars for their clients.

They are actively working on many top pertinent cases such as issues associated with transvaginal meshes, hip implants, knee replacements, and many others. At Wagstaff & Cartmell, the attorneys here will not rest until their clients are awarded justice in a court of law.

If you or anyone you know have been personally affected by opiate drugs, make sure to contact Wagstaff & Cartmell. They are currently pursuing future litigation against all parties involved with the wholesale manufacturing, distribution, and prescription of opioid drugs in the state of Missouri.