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A case that was being watched closely ended in Cleveland last week with a federal jury finding three national pharmacy chains liable for helping to drive the opioid addiction and overdose crisis in the United States.

For the past 20 years, I have been engaged in efforts to end the opioid epidemic, as a public health official, researcher and clinician.

The latest overdose data released last week by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that overdose deaths that had flattened out starting in 2017 are once again on the rise.

As it became increasingly evident that the opioid epidemic was sparked and fanned by “legal” drug dealers such as doctors, pain clinics and pharmacies, residents across Appalachia and the Rust Belt cried out for justice.

In a first, a federal jury has found three pharmacies liable for their role in distributing opioids — a verdict that could set the tone for U.S. city and county governments that want to hold pharmacies accountable for contributing to the opioid crisis.

THURSDAY, Nov. 24, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- CVS Health, Walmart and Walgreens contributed to opioid overdoses and deaths in two Ohio counties, a federal jury in Cleveland found Tuesday.

Pharmacies have multiple grounds for reversal of jury verdict. Cleveland jury found pharmacy chains created public nuisance.

Yesterday, the first bellwether trial in the opioid multidistrict litigation (MDL) came to a close with a jury verdict in favor the plaintiffs.