Lawsuit Claims Drug Companies Have Raised Insurance Costs In North Carolina
A North Carolina man is suing more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies, claiming they have contributed to the rise of insurance costs in the state.
opioids
Methamphetamine Roils Rural Towns Again Across The U.S.
Meth is back "with a vengeance," police say. Now made mostly by superlabs in Mexico, it is stronger, cheaper and more prevalent, cutting across demographic barriers and sparking serious crime.
NPR Poll: Rural Americans Are Worried About Addiction And Jobs, But Remain Optimistic
What's on people's minds in rural America? A new poll shows that the addiction crisis and economic issues have people worried. But many retain an upbeat outlook about the future of their communities.
'Come And Arrest Me': Former Pa. Governor Defies Justice Department On Safe Injection
A nonprofit in Philadelphia is making plans to open a supervised drug injection site — which is against the law. Their response to justice department threats of a crackdown? "Bring it on."
Addiction Treatment Gap Is Driving A Black Market For Suboxone
This medicine to treat opioid addiction is hard to come by — only a fraction of doctors can prescribe it. So some people trying to quit a heroin habit are turning to the black market for help.
How The Opioid Epidemic Affects Older Adults
In 2017, more than 5,500 North Carolinians went to the emergency room for an opioid overdose.
Drugmakers Play The Patent Game To Lock In Prices, Block Competitors
Pharmaceutical companies like Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, often win patents for incremental changes with debatable value. Now there's a twist involving an opioid addiction treatment.
Insurer To Purdue Pharma: We Won't Pay For OxyContin Anymore
Embattled drugmaker Purdue Pharma defends OxyContin as some insurers are dropping the drug in favor of other abuse-deterrent opioid painkillers.
Inspired By Her Own Pain, A Researcher Explores Alternatives To Opioid Treatments
New options for nonaddictive pain treatment are sorely needed. One researcher is borrowing from the field of cancer nanomedicine to test an idea that could bring relief to chronic pain sufferers.
Ketamine, A Promising Depression Treatment, Seems To Act Like An Opioid
A Stanford research team finds that ketamine's ability to quickly relieve depression may depend on activating the brain's opioid system. The finding raises new questions about the drug's safety.