An investigation by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity sheds light on the political machinations that helped pave the way for America's opioid addiction crisis.
Pharmaceutical interests spent $880 million on lobbying state and federal lawmakers and regulators over the past decade, the investigation found. In contrast, groups that were pushing for greater restrictions on opioids collectively spent only $4 million.
Like all major business interests, pharma also spent big on political campaigns, delivering contributions to 7,100 candidates for state office during the timeframe examined.
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Most fascinating about the report was the links it highlighted between drug companies and advocacy groups, such as the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network, which are heavily funded by drug interests. Both groups have promoted industry-backed opioid legislation in a number of states, even in instances when cancer patients were already exempt from the opioid restrictions that the drug lobby was fighting.
While the drug industry will no doubt continue to pour money into lobbying and public relations to beat back regulations on opioids, the horrific effects of widespread opioid abuse throughout the country will make its efforts less effective.
The medical community, political leaders and the public appear to have turned a corner in the past two or three years on the issue of opioids. Not only have more and more people seen loved ones fall victims to prescription painkiller addiction, but people are also understanding the link between painkiller abuse and the dramatic increase in heroin use. A large percentage of heroin users turned to the drug after getting hooked on prescription meds.
As a result of the public awakening on the issue, prescriptions for opioids have fallen in each of the last three years.
Not only are doctors under pressure to more carefully scrutinize requests for prescriptions and to more closely monitor patients taking painkillers, but some medical experts have begun to raise doubts about whether opioids should be prescribed for chronic pain at all. One study suggested that opioids may actually prolong the pain they are prescribed to treat.
In addition, political leaders in both parties have announced support for initiatives aimed at treating opioid addiction and called for greater restrictions on prescriptions. Several senators even sought to block the confirmation of Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, citing his ties to an agency that they said had facilitated the addiction crisis by approving the use of powerful painkillers.
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