Opioid Lawsuits

If you, a loved one or your community, have suffered the devastation caused by opioid addiction you may be eligible to file an opioid injury claim against the manufacturer, pharmacy or parent company of of these highly addictive and lethal drugs. An opioid addiction lawsuit may allow you to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and other damages you may have suffered. The LGBTQ legal team at Giampolo Law Group is ready to review your claim during a free and confidential consultation to see if you may be able to seek compensation. There is no risk in calling us and no obligation to move forward. We have decades of experience obtaining millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Do not hesitate to reach out to schedule a consultation at no cost to you. Our gay attorneys charge no upfront fees for our legal services and only receive payment at the end of the process if we successfully help you obtain a recovery. There is limited time to seek compensation so it is important to contact us as soon as possible. Call or email our LGBT injury attorneys handling opioid lawsuits anytime to see how we may be able to help.

Opioid Addiction In The LGBTQ Population Statistics

The opioid epidemic in this country impacts people of all races, colors, creeds, gender identity and sexual orientation. Statistically the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community has endured higher rates of substance abuse including opioids. As the opioid epidemic grows in the United States, LGBTQ Americans face alarmingly high rates of addiction and fatal overdose. Studies show that approximately 20% and 30% of people in the LGBT+ community engage in drug or alcohol abuse, as compared to 9% of the general population. There is not much research on the rates of opioid addiction in the LGBTQ community, but surveys do demonstrate the damaging effects of opioids in LGBTQ lives. Approximately 1 in 10 adults over the age of 18 who misused prescription opioids (such as Hydrocodone or Oxycodone) identified as LGBTQ, and they were 3 times more likely to develop an addiction than heterosexual adults.

Opioid Manufacturers 

• Allergan
• AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation
• Cardinal Health Inc.
• Costco
• CVS
• Endo Health Solutions and its affiliates
• Endo International and its affiliates
• Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its affiliates (including its parent company Johnson & Johnson)
• Mallinckrodt LLC
• McKesson Corporation
• Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family and their associates/consultants
• Rite-Aid Corporation
• Rochester Drug Cooperative Inc.
• Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and its affiliates; and Allergan Finance, LLC
• Walgreens
• Wal-Mart

Seeking Legal Recourse For Opioid Addiction & Death

As all injury and defective drug lawsuits are different our attorneys must learn more about your situation before determining whether you may be able to take legal action. Our gay friendly firm is currently investigating claims from those who suffered serious side effects after taking certain opioid painkillers such as:

• Why you were initially prescribed opioids
• Type and dose of the drug and how long you have been taking the drug
• Physical, emotional and psychological injuries you have suffered, including overdoses that required hospitalization
• Treatments related to opioid overdose and/or addiction (outpatient and inpatient rehab)
• Addiction leading to significant personal losses, such as job loss, financial distress, loss of child custody, etc.

There is a limited amount of time to pursue damages for your injuries. Our LGBT+ drug injury lawyers are ready to review your particular circumstances in a free consultation.

Benefits & Compensation In Opioid Related Injuries

We encourage you to contact an experienced opioid injury lawyer from our firm to discuss what your claim may be worth. Generally, victims of opioid addiction may be able to recover the following types of damages:

• Medical expenses for hospitalizations, treatment and medical transportation
• Drug treatments costs for opioid addiction and overdose
• Loss of wages from not being able to work due to opioid abuse
• Physical pain and mental suffering, such as diminished quality of life
• Funeral and burial expenses for those who lost someone from opioids

We understand that no amount of compensation can change what happened, but it may be able to help individuals and families affected by the opioid epidemic obtain the treatment they need to try and move forward with their lives. Our consultations are completely free and come with no obligation to hire us.

Understanding the U.S. Opioid Epidemic

Opioid abuse and addiction continue to plague the nation, devastating the lives of thousands of people and their loved ones. The opioid epidemic began in the mid to late 1990s when deaths from opioid overdoses started to rise after more opioid medications were being prescribed by doctors to treat cancer patients with chronic pain.

Pharmaceutical companies soon began to market opioids for non-cancer patients. Purdue Pharma began aggressive marketing for OxyContin as a highly effective painkiller with a low risk of addiction for anyone suffering from chronic pain or overwhelming short-term pain. Despite claims of drug dependency being relatively low, internal documents revealed that the company was aware of the addictive nature of OxyContin after it was approved by the FDA in 1996.

Purdue Pharma decided to hide this information and continued to fraudulently market the drug to doctors as safe to use, which helped contribute to the increase in opioid prescription medications in the U.S. to treat many types of pain. This has resulted in millions of people suffering serious harm related to prescription opioid addiction.

How Purdue Pharma’s Bankruptcy Affects Claims

After facing numerous lawsuits for deceptive marketing practices and profiting from opioid addiction, Purdue Pharma settled with several states and local governments in September of 2019.

Part of the deal to settle meant the company agreeing to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy to provide between $10 and $12 billion to combat the opioid crisis. This settlement includes the cost of drugs to treat addiction.

A Chapter 11 bankruptcy case allows companies to reorganize their debts. Purdue Pharma is attempting to settle claims filed against them through their bankruptcy filing. The bankruptcy court will determine how much each eligible opioid injury victim may be able to receive.

Many of the lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, including those filed by local governments, were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Ohio. As of February 14, 2020, there were 2,706 pending cases in the MDL. As of September 2019, approximately half the states suing Purdue Pharma and the lead plaintiffs’ attorneys in the MDL support the bankruptcy deal.

Opioid Side Effects

Opioids include prescription painkillers and street drugs like heroin that are highly addictive. Someone can become physically dependent on these drugs within weeks of consistent use. Opioids can cause numerous complications and serious side effects, both short and long-term.

Short-term side effects of opioids include:

Long-term effects of opioids include:

Treating opioid dependency and addiction can be difficult. The most common withdrawal symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, muscle and bone pain, sleep issues, cold flashes and involuntary leg movements.

Call Us to Discuss a Possible Claim with an Opioid Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one became addicted to one of the opioid medications made in the United States or abroad you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against the company. Our opioid injury lawyers are prepared to help you pursue compensation for the financial, physical and emotional losses caused by an opioid overdose or opioid addiction. Please connect with our gay injury attorneys to learn more about your legal options in a free, no-obligation consultation. They are here to help answer any questions about the claims process and how we may be able to help at no upfront costs to you. Our legal experts handle opioid injury and wrongful death claims on a contingency fee basis which means we only get paid obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering.

Source: https://www.rehabspot.com/opioids/who-addiction-affects/lgbtq-opioid-addiction/