Wednesday, July 18, 2018

McCaskill report shows 1.6 billion doses of opioids sent into Missouri over six-year period

(From Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-MO)

I hear this story too often: someone pulls me aside after a town hall to tell a heartbreaking story of opioid addiction in their families.

Sometimes it's an overdose death. Sometimes it's a lack of treatment facilities. So often it's a feeling of helplessness from on a family member who just wants to help.

It's a heartbreaking reality, and I wanted to do everything I could to help and investigate the opioid manufacturers and distributors. So last year I launched an investigation to start digging into the issue more - to find out exactly how we got here in the first place.

You may remember our last couple of reports on this issue. But the latest one in this series -- the third -- shows some really shocking stuff.

You can read the latest report here.

When I saw that 1.6 BILLION doses of opioids were sent into Missouri over a 6 year period, even knowing how serious the problem is, I was still surprised.

That is hundreds of doses for every Missouri resident.

It's 260 pills, on average, for every single man, woman, and child in our state.

In 2015 -- the peak year for opioid shipments to Missouri this report covered -- the three major distributors shipped approximately 52 opioid dosage units per person in the state. That's a staggering number.

This report shows that suspicious shipments are a problem.

It shows there may not be a uniform way of enforcing and complying with the laws as it relates to suspicious shipments.

It shows that the DEA is doing less and not more than it should on the problem of suspicious shipments.

And maybe most importantly, it shows too many suspicious shipments and opioid related deaths in the small communities along the borders of our state.

This is a problem in Nixa, in Rolla, in West Plains, in Maryville -- it is all over our state.

The opioid crisis these pills have fueled is a failure of policy and oversight by the government and a failure of basic human morality on the part of many pharmaceutical companies and distributors --a failure that has destroyed families and communities all over our state.

I won't stop fighting for Missouri families to hold those responsible for this epidemic accountable.

12 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:48 AM

    They need to pursue the legal drug pushers (candy Dr.'s) everybody knows one...

    ReplyDelete
  2. So why in the name of the Almighty does she fight the Wall??
    She should introduce the bill!

    Harvey Hutchinson 303-522 6622 voice&text

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous10:20 AM

    This is about MONEY and lawsuits against big pharma, it’s just like when they went after the tobacco companies.

    Think about it. Why isn’t there just as much focus on meth. I think everyone could agree it’s a huge problem. Why aren’t resources thrown at that? Because that would COST money. Winning lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies will bring in billions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Only 35% comes from Candy doctors via abused prescriptions; 65% comes over the Mexican Border, along with humans that were trafficked, violent gangs, and all sorts of ills.! For the life of me; why do the Democrats and Fake News companies fight a secure border, and want these awful scenarios to continue?

    I guess it goes along with lying crooked Claire fighting the Supreme Court nominee.

    What a scumbag!!!!
    Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous11:25 AM

    Harvey,

    Obviously you didn’t read the report, as it suggests the pharmaceutical industry HERE in the US of A, is the major culprit by shipping over 260 doses per person in Missouri from 2012-2017. This doesn’t require a wall, it requires Congress acting on the report to hold those companies accountable. Do you know where most of the fentanyl in the US and Mexico comes from? China, and they already have a big, beautiful wall there. Education is a terrible thing to waste, read the report, the link is in the story, but I’ll paste it below, too.

    https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/REPORT-Fueling%20an%20Epidemic-A%20Flood%20of%201.6%20Billion%20Doses%20of%20Opioids%20into%20Missouri%20and%20the%20Need%20for%20Stronger%20DEA%20Enforcement.pdf

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous4:00 PM

    That wall is just a Trump pipe dream Harvey. Even you should know that.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous 10:20 AM
    I think you might be I. To something

    Harvey Hutchinson 303-522-6622 voice&text 24/7

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:33 AM

    Let's pretend for a moment that the wall gets built. How will this wall stop the drugs that come in via tunnels? How will the wall stop drugs that come in by sea? How will the wall stop drugs coming in by air?

    Surprise! It won't, because the wall won't do anything but waste taxpayers money.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4:06 PM

    Can there ever be comments that are grounded in common sense rather than political ramblings and attacks?

    I think it makes sense this is about getting big money from the pharmaceutical companies. It’s a bipartisan effort. It has nothing to do with that stupid wall. That wall is just a smokescreen for those with a lack of reasonable argument. The drug problem is everywhere with all kinds of drugs and the tragedies for users and their families. But our government is going to only focus on lawsuits. I haven’t heard anything about drilling down on the problem and solutions. Nope, let’s just sue someone with deep pockets. That will fix it. Whoops, no let’s build a wall and that will fix it.

    Why don’t we have a constitutional amendment prohibiting it? That worked so well with alcohol. The drug/alcohol problem is bigger than all of this. Address the cause of addiction. That’s what will make a difference. But, that’s not what this is about. It’s about money.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous 9:33 AM
    Surprise— Just like possum and squirrel hunting in the south, you simply fill the tunnel up with poison gas— they’ll go back the other way!

    Anonymous 4:06 The Constitutional Amendment banning alcohol did NOT work, so it was repealed

    Harvey HUTCHINSON 303-522-6622 voice&text

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous 11:15 AM

    The work force comes across the Mexican Border at legal check points

    The Wall is for those that illegally come across open spaces for thousands of miles!

    These are the bad actors we HAVE to stop!!

    Harvey HUTCHINSON 303-522-6622 voice&text

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10:56 AM

    Poor Harvey, Your condoning using poisoned gas on people is right up there with your buddy Assad in Syria. Do you actually think before you speak or try to type? Here's an idea for you Harvey. Have all your rich patriotic buddies, 1%ers and corporations tax savings pay for the wall. As a matter of fact, you can even go help build it since you are so hot for the wall. Then once you finish it, you can stay on the other side of it and truly Make America Great Again!

    ReplyDelete