Addiction Treatment

Walgreens settled an opioid lawsuit with the city of San Francisco for nearly $230 million, the largest award to a local jurisdiction against an opioid defendant, The Washington Post reported May 18.

California plans to invest $23.3 million to support students who are going to school to become substance use disorder counselors through its Earn and Learn Training Program. 

Owensboro, Ky.-based RiverValley Behavioral Health plans to open an addiction recovery center specifically for men this month, The Ohio County Monitor reported May 16. 

Cannabis is being increasingly found laced with fentanyl.

The gold standard in opioid addiction treatment, buprenorphine, is drastically underprescribed despite still-climbing opioid overdose deaths, according to a new study. Black patients receive it less often than others.

Former Modesto, Calif., pulmonologist Sawtantra Chopra, MD, pleaded guilty to three counts of illegally prescribing opioids and other medications, the Justice Department said May 11.

Ryan Wade, MD, medical director of the Freedom Institute, an addiction treatment center in New York City, joined Becker's to discuss his new leadership role and the transition from virtual to in-person care. 

Several states are debating instating overdose prevention centers where those with substance abuse issues can go to use drugs in a controlled environment to prevent overdose, The Washington Post reported May 8. 

Kroger settled an opioid lawsuit with West Virginia for $68 million, bringing the state's total opioid litigation dollars to more than $1 billion, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a May 4 press conference.

Here are 15 addiction treatment updates Becker's has reported on since April 5: