The Opioid Crisis and What Has Been Learned

The Opioid Epidemic dominated the news for several years; Covid 19 virus pandemic has quieted the news but not the epidemic. We published a short article on the history and lessons learned for your information. Pharmaconsultant experts have consulted and testified extensively in opiate toxicity cases.

Opiate Toxicity Video

Not a day goes by without multiple news reports about the opiate epidemic and opiate deaths in all walks of life. Dr. James J. O’Donnell has prepared a video explaining how opiates cause toxicity, specifically suppression of breathing, which is the mechanism of death in opiate toxicity and overdose.

This scenario presents in criminal law (drug induced homicide), as well as in civil/health care malpractice. Deaths occur on the street, in the hospital, and after discharge at home.

Selected Opiates Toxicity – A Modern Day Epidemic

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the names and reasons/circumstances for additional toxicity of SELECTED OPIATES

Hydromorphone DILAUDID
Methadone
Fentanyl/DURAGESIC
Criteria for these selected opiates
2. Identify and discuss

education,
potency,
tolerance,
safety,
kinetics,
dosing
Opiates Toxicity Workshop-12-2013 (PDF of presentation)