Opioid crisis in court: A settlement and a bankruptcy

The Issues

[link removed]

|

Drug Trends

[link removed]

|

Press Room

[link removed]

|

Make a difference

[link removed]

The Big News

A $260 million settlement

[link removed]

between four drug companies and two Ohio counties averted a trial over who is to blame for the opioid crisis. The tentative deal, announced by Judge Dan A. Polster, cleared the way for broader talks aimed at resolving thousands of opioid-addiction cases nationwide, which have been consolidated into a single lawsuit there in Ohio. In fact, four state attorneys general already are now pursuing a $48 billion settlement with the companies involved.

Purdue Pharma, perhaps the company most blamed for the crisis in the court of public opinion, is no longer part of the Ohio case because it declared bankruptcy. A committee that includes recovery advocates and is helping to guide Purdue’s bankruptcy proceeding had previously suggested that the Ohio case wait and follow the lead of the bankruptcy court

[link removed]

, which no longer appears likely.

Here’s a guide to the massive (and massively complex) legal fights

[link removed]

taking place on multiple fronts.

If it's not one drug, it's another. Most often, it’s multiple substances. That's why it's so important to characterize America's No. 1 public health problem as an addiction crisis, not just an opioid overdose epidemic

[link removed]

. As advocates, we must keep making that point so that policy solutions and public funding, including proceeds from the opioid litigation, do not miss the broader underlying issue. Meth use, for example, continues to surge

[link removed]

in many areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The best investments at this point are in expanding and improving the systemic infrastructure for addressing addiction, and people’s access to it. We need to get more people into long-term recovery from all drugs so they have the opportunity to survive and thrive.

After a landmark federal ruling, it’s unclear

[link removed]

when Philadelphia will become the first city in America to open a legal supervised injection site

[link removed]

—perhaps even two sites—but organizers say they are committed

[link removed]

. While not binding on other jurisdictions, the decision may also embolden other cities like Denver, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and New York—all of which have strong advocates for such sites and more confidence now that they can successfully face any court challenges of their own.

It’s National Addiction Treatment Week

[link removed]

! Be sure to express your gratitude to the professionals who are working with patients day in and day out to help them initiate a new life in recovery!

The DEA's Take Back Day initiative helps get unused and unwanted prescription medications out of circulation and safely disposed. For the next National Take Back Day—this Saturday, Oct. 26—drop-off locations will also accept vaping devices and cartridges. Find the location closest to you

[link removed]

.

Read more →

[link removed]



This week’s featured media is the latest epidode in our Let’s Talk podcast with host William C. Moyers talking to psychotherapist Paul Hokemeyer, PhD, about his book, Fragile Power: Why Having Everything Is Never Enough. Dr. Hokemeyer, known for his work with the rich and famous, explains why insecurity, shame and emotional pain are part of the human condition, no matter the size of your fan base or bank account. More important, he shares that empathy (available to everyone) is the true super power because it fosters mutual understanding, connection and authenticity. Watch

[link removed]

, listen or read

[link removed]

.

Share: Tweet

[link removed]

| Facebook

[link removed]

| LinkedIn

[link removed]

Treatment Industry Issues and Reforms

SAMHSA published new recovery housing best practices and suggested guidelines in a report that was called for in opioid legislation we supported last year. It’s nice to see a focus on the need for more housing conducive to people on medications. Learn more →

[link removed]

A new bill in Congress would allow Medicare coverage for addiction counseling

[link removed]

, which would be a huge reform and expansion of access.

In another vivid indictment of the addiction-treatment and sober-home industry in southeast Florida, a former patient writes powerfully in The New Yorker about, “My Years in the Florida Shuffle of Drug Addiction

[link removed]

.” His article portrays the fraud, patient brokering and other unethical practices that prompted Hazelden Betty Ford two years ago to begin speaking up about the need for reforms in our industry

[link removed]

. Meanwhile, Palm Beach County Attorney Dave Aronberg’s Sober Homes Task Force

[link removed]

, a joint effort between prosecutors and local law enforcement, continues its efforts to crack down on fraud and abuse in the area.

Florida enacted an anti-kickback, or anti-patient-brokering, law in 2017 that gave police the authority to arrest unethical providers and operators. Since then, similar laws have been enacted in Arizona, California, New York, Tennessee and Utah. With Hazelden Betty Ford’s support, Congress also passed a federal patient brokering ban

[link removed]

in 2018, but it is not as broad as state laws can be. So, many states are now wary of unethical providers moving into their states and are considering anti-patient-brokering laws of their own

[link removed]

.

Cannabis

The New York Times dives into the shadowy past and dangerous present of marijuana and vaping. Learn more →

[link removed]

After 18 months of shooting Pot Luck: The Altered State of Colorado—due out in December—filmmaker Jane Wells says she no longer supports marijuana legalization and, in this article

[link removed]

, provides seven reasons why other supporters ought to rethink their position, too.

Jamaica wants to export cannabis

[link removed]

to many countries, but it is having trouble because its banking system is inextricably linked to America’s.

Cannabis is trendy across the globe, but experts—even as far away as Hong Kong

[link removed]

—are sounding alarms about the misperception that marijuana is not addictive and safe.

Opioids

While America’s opioid crisis has spread to some other parts of the world, Germany has managed to avoid it

[link removed]

with different approaches to health care, pain management and substance use treatment. Learn more →

[link removed]

Other treatment centers that utilize Twelve Step principles and practices are following our lead

[link removed]

by also integrating pharmacotherapy

[link removed]

in the treatment of opioid use disorder and working to destigmatize the use of medication in recovery.

The founder and CEO of drug disposal company DisposeRx, John Waldron Holaday

[link removed]

, was killed in a tragic, random gunshot incident.

Alcohol

A growing number of young adults—2 in 5

[link removed]

—are dealing with a substance use disorder, and in some cases, multiple substance use disorders, and not seeking help, according to a study. Learn more →

[link removed]

A new study found that having one to two drinks daily increases a person’s risk of developing an irregular heartbeat

[link removed]

condition more than binge drinking on weekends does.

Health Care Reform and Parity

A positive sign: Blue Cross Blue Shield has added substance use treatment and recovery as one of the top 11 disease conditions it aims to address in 2020. Addiction needs to be prioritized. Learn more →

[link removed]

Dr. Karen DeSalvo, a former health official in the Obama administration, has been named the new head of Google Health

[link removed]

, a personal record service that allows users to store and manage their healthcare information online. Last month, Google's parent company, Alphabet, hired former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to lead Google Health's strategy and policy team. Both Califf and DeSalvo will begin their roles later this year as Google takes a deeper dive into the healthcare industry.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is proposing a health care overhaul

[link removed]

focused on improving primary care and behavioral health, and reducing costs. Despite the state’s increased investment in behavioral health care, he says, “Consumers consistently report long waits for appointments, lack of treatment available at the right time and at the right place, and difficulty finding providers who take insurance.”

Michael Jordan, former basketball star, spends $7 million and opens the first of two clinics to care for uninsured people

[link removed]

in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C.

Advocate Spotlight

Congratulations to our very own William C. Moyers, who recently celebrated 25 years of recovery with a brief reflection on his journey and the North Star that continues to guide him—gratitude. Learn more →

[link removed]

Advocates Se-ah-dom Edmo and Tony Vezina

[link removed]

implore Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to take immediate and forceful action to address the state’s addiction crisis.

In an interview that kicks off an eight-part Glassdoor podcast series called “In Pursuit,” Brené Brown

[link removed]

talks about her career journey, how she navigates sobriety while in the limelight, and her biggest career lessons. Brown is the author of The Gifts of Imperfection, a Hazelden Publishing title, and other bestsellers.

Miscellaneous Musings

Our colleague Jerry Moe spoke to KQ Morning Show host Tom Barnard about Sesame Workshop's new initiative on parental addiction

[link removed]

and the Hazelden Betty Ford Children’s Program.

He and colleague Dan Simmons also spread the news about resources for children

[link removed]

on a Florida TV station. Learn more →

[link removed]

We’re excited that CBS This Morning is hosting a Mental Health Townhall

[link removed]

on Wednesday!

Our CEO Mark Mishek discussed Hazelden Betty Ford’s 70th anniversary

[link removed]

with Eric Eskola and Cathy Wurzer, hosts of Almanac, a public affairs show on Twin Cities Public Television.

Congrats to our own Emily Piper, who was selected to participate in the inaugural Minnesota Young American Leaders Program

[link removed]

, which grew from a partnership among the Itasca Project, the University of Minnesota’s Center for Integrative Leadership, and the Harvard Business School. The intensive, three-day program will convene 50 rising leaders from across business, nonprofit organizations and government to focus on inclusive economic development and the challenges and opportunities of common concern to all generations across the state.

In Minnesota, fewer students are drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or smoking marijuana, but many more are vaping

[link removed]

.

After the Unite to Face Addiction concert and rally in 2015, we floated the idea of a Peace Corps for recovery support workers. Since then, the Recovery Corps concept has been born within Americorps-funded agencies. Now, the drumbeat is building for a Peace Corps for all sorts of caregivers

[link removed]

. There is still so much unrealized opportunity for this in the recovery space.

Some reflections

[link removed]

from our Recovery Friendly Workplace Summit

[link removed]

, held last week in Seattle. Here too is a recent podcast discussion on early learnings

[link removed]

from the state-supported Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative in New Hampshire, which has helped inspire efforts like our event in Seattle.

Interesting article here about how big business

[link removed]

shapes our habits and desires, and fuels addiction.

Addiction isn’t the only health issue on which doctors are under-trained

[link removed]

. Our diets are killing us, too, and physicians aren’t trained to help with that either.

Our friend, colleague and fellow advocate David Campbell, who emcees hazelfest, helped the team behind State., a high school hockey documentary, win a Regional Emmy

[link removed]

with his “dreamy voice” and “goose bump inducing delivery.”

In his latest blog post, William White reflects on imagery associated with addiction and recovery, and reminds that the disease cannot be viewed as a matter of either choice or chemistry. “We should never forget that addiction and recovery are measured not in the absolutes of either/or but in devolving and evolving degrees of lost and regained freedom,” he writes

[link removed]

.

Thank you for reading. What do you think? Send us a note anytime, and have a great week!

Photo Highlights

Two of our top docs—Stephen Delisi (left) and Chief Medical Officer Marvin D. Seppala—were at last week’s Appalachian Addiction & Prescription Drug Misuse Conference in Morgantown, W.V. Dr. Seppala spoke at the event, focused on expanding education among healthcare providers.

Kristen Schmidt, M.D., (center and flanked, L to R, by colleagues Romana Zvereva, M.D., and Joelle Jacobson) spoke in Los Angeles to a group of clinicians and psychiatrists about “Why Women Want,” how addiction affects them and how we can help more establish a new life in recovery.

This amazing photo taken and shared by reader Duane Lowe just screams: Take It Easy.

Our Dr. Joseph Lee discussed the opioid crisis on ABC’s The Tamron Hall Show.

Full house for our Recovery Friendly Workplace Summit in Seattle. Pictured (L to R) are Hazelden Betty Ford’s Carrie Bates, Jeanne Ren, Hosia Keene, Caitlin Laun, and Heidi Wallace.

Our colleague Carrie Bates was among the speakers at the Recovery Friendly Workplace Summit we held in Seattle last week.

Let’s Talk podcast host William C. Moyers holds Fragile Power: Why Having Everything is Never Enough, from Hazelden Publishing.

Let’s Talk podcast guest Paul Hokemeyer, PhD, is the author of the new book Fragile Power: Why Having Everything is Never Enough.

Twin Cities Public Television’s Cathy Wurzer and Eric Eskola interviewed our CEO Mark Mishek (right) on Friday’s episode of the public affairs show Almanac.

On TPT’s Almanac, Hazelden Betty Ford CEO Mark Mishek discussed our 70th anniversary, marijuana policy, treatment for opioid use disorder, and more.

Our colleague Joseph Skrajewski (left) with Senior Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Tim Baker at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Ten of the school’s students who participated in our Summer Institute for Medical Students created an Addiction Awareness Week, with a series of events, including Joseph’s keynote: “Advancements in Medical Education on Addiction / Finding Happiness in Recovery.”

(L to R) Recovery advocate Randy Anderson, yours truly, Last Day podcast host Stephanie Wittels Wachs, St. Paul Sober Living’s Holly S., and our Dr. Joseph Lee chatted after the recording of an engaging town hall about the opioid crisis that took place at the Manova Health Summit in Minneapolis. The townhall will air as an upcoming episode of Last Day—likely in early December.

Our colleague Jerry Moe gave the opening plenary to 630 people at the West Virginia Center for Children’s Justice Conference. He is shown here with Andrea Darr, director of the Center.

Lemonada Media CEO Jessica Cordova Kramer, Dr. Joseph Lee, and Native American Community Clinic CEO Antony Stately, PhD, participated in a town hall and podcast about the opioid crisis.

Hazelden Betty Ford:

Est. 1949

Next stop: Nov. 9 in San Diego

[link removed]

!

Please share questions, thoughts and ideas. Plus, follow us on Twitter

[link removed]

for daily updates.

Jeremiah Gardner

Director, Communications and Public Affairs

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

1-651-213-4231

tel:1-651-213-4231

LinkedIn

[link removed]

ISSUES WE CARE ABOUT

Industry Reform

[link removed]

| Fighting Addiction Stigma

[link removed]

| Opioid Epidemic

[link removed]

| Access to Treatment

[link removed]

| Marijuana Education

[link removed]

| Criminal Justice Reform

[link removed]

| Alcohol Prevention

[link removed]

You are receiving this message because you've registered or accepted our invitation to receive email from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

You are currently not subscribed to this email. If you'd like to receive Hazelden Betty Ford Advocacy Update emails, subscribe today.

[link removed]

View Online

[link removed]

| Preferences

[link removed]

| Unsubscribe

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

15251 Pleasant Valley Rd.

PO Box 11 RW19

Center City, MN 55012-0011