News

Lawsuits brought by governmental bodies against a prescription opioid distributor seeking damages merely related to opioid-related addiction and overdoses do not invoke an insurer’s duty to defend, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today.

As Walmart faces a tower of lawsuits accusing the company of fueling the opioid epidemic, the retail chain said the accusations are "misguided and dangerous" because they corrode patient's trust in pharmacists and physicians.

As states and localities begin receiving the money, advocates are pushing for it to go toward public health programs, and to avoid some practices that emerged around the 1990s tobacco settlement.

As cleveland.com’s Gretchen Kuda Croen recently reported, modeling suggests that a tidal wave of drug overdose deaths is coming – to Ohio and the nation. And with Ohio, the seventh most populous state, ranked No. 4 in drug overdose deaths in 2020, there’s little doubt that the state and region will again be in the eye of this tragic storm.

Health, public safety officials stress importance of outreach

What You Need To Know: Opiate-overdose deaths in Summit County are not declining despite the work of multiple agencies. Since 2020, the number of opiate-related deaths has risen 70%. The county recorded an 18% increase in overdose deaths among African American women. Agencies are focused on assisting drug users through harm-reduction and support strategies.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in observance of the state's second annual Overdose Awareness Day today released the 2021 RecoveryOhio Annual Review, which gives a detailed overview of the work that RecoveryOhio has done to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery support efforts that address the state’s public health crisis – mental health and substance use.

While Franklin County had a slight decline in overdose deaths in 2021 compared to the previous year, it is still the second highest total recorded as the number of fatal drug overdoses continues to soar throughout Ohio and the U.S.