Philadelphia, Allegheny County DAs fight for accountability amid opioid epidemic

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. joined Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner in suing Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro to ensure ongoing litigation against multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical giants are not squashed by a settlement deal.

Philadelphia files lawsuit over national opioid settlement

In the first big challenge to the proposed $26 billion national opioid settlement, the Philadelphia district attorney on Thursday sued Pennsylvania’s attorney general over the deal, saying the city stands to get only a pittance to cope with an epidemic that is killing more than 1,000 people a year.

Pennsylvania's overdose deaths rose in 2020, CDC says

Overdose deaths in Pennsylvania grew along with the national rate last year during the pandemic.

J&J to pay $230M to settle claims it helped fuel opioid crisis

As part of the deal, the drugmaker also agreed to end the manufacturing and distribution of opioids across New York and the rest of the nation.

Brandon Novak: The Whole Thing
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FOX 29?s Mike Jerrick sits down with former professional skateboarder and recovering addict Brandon Novak. Novak shares his journey to recovery as he nears six years of sobriety and opens a recovery house in Delaware.

Opioid deaths on the rise in Montgomery County during the COVID-19 pandemic

Overdose deaths fueled by opioids spiked in 2020. Investigators say hand-to-hand buys still happen in remote corners, but much of the illegal drug trade has gone digital.

Kratom: Experts warn over-the-counter supplement can be dangerous, addictive

Experts say kratom, an over-the-counter supplement that's not hard to find, can be addictive and lead to the use of drugs. When mixed with other drugs, it can be deadly.

US appeals court rules Philadelphia's supervised injection site defies drug law

A divided appeals court on Tuesday rejected a plan to open a supervised injection site in Philadelphia to try to reduce overdose deaths, concluding the operation would violate a 1980s-era drug law.

DOJ sues Walmart over role in America’s opioid crisis

The Justice Department is suing Walmart, alleging the company unlawfully dispensed controlled substances through its pharmacies, helping to fuel the opioid crisis in America, according to a person familiar with the matter.

US appeals court weighs law on supervised injection sites

A federal appeals court became the latest panel to wrestle with the nation’s opioid epidemic as judges reviewed a long-debated plan Monday to open a medically supervised injection site in Philadelphia.

Authorities respond to high number of overdoses in New Castle County

The New Castle County Division of Police in a news release said the overdoses have left one person dead. Police did not provide the total number of overdoses.

US officials: OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead guilty to 3 criminal charges

Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges, the DOJ said.

DA: Philadelphia man charged with selling fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills

A Philadelphia man has been charged with multiple felonies after prosecutors say he sold fentanyl-disguised oxycodone pills in areas around Montgomery County.

Pennsylvania drug treatment firm co-founder sentenced for fraud scheme

Jason Gerner, 46, of Shamong, will also forfeit $444,983 and must serve three years of probation once he's freed from prison under the sentence imposed Monday.