Hogens Berman Sobol Shapiro: Vytorin and zetia makers settle class – action lawsuit with a proposed payout of $41.5 million dollars to it’s victims. This lawsuit settles claims regarding the safety and efficacy of popular prescription drugs.

Boston – Drug manufacturing giants Merck & Co. and Schering – Plough Corp were forced to settle allegations the companies suppressed critical information about the efficacy and safety of two of their prescription drugs vytorin and zetia. Attorneys representing consumers and  third party payors announced the proposal, as well as similar claims with 35 states and a claim for $5.4 million with the district of Columbia.

Among the many factors affecting drug use among teens – “peer presure” ranked the highest. Even those who consider themselves as living above the influnce of peer presure have found it difficult to refuse using drugs, especially when they are convinced that their social status and popularity are on the line. Marijuana, ecstacy, and Hallucinogens such as mushrooms are among the most common drugs for first time teen users.

There is a common perception among the public, that illegal drugs pose a bigger problem than drugs prescribed in a hospital. However, that’s not the reality…according to Dr. Ronald Lim, hospitals are the new breeding ground for drug misuse.

Many of the people who suffer from  addiction, no longer need dealers. They can simply get high on drugs commonly found in their medicine cabinets. So widespread is this practice that Dr. Lim calls it “an epidemic.” According to the U.S. Department of Health Services “Prescription drug abuse has almost doubled from 2000 to  2007.”

This problem has recieved a much needed spot light, primarily because of priscription drug misuse in the recent deaths of Pop Legend Michael Jackson and high profile celeb Anna Nicole Smith.

There seems to be no end in sight for the many phshical and emotional disorders that prescription drugs now treat. Opioids and benzoiazepines if used properly will treat anxiety, dpression, insomnia, stree, panic attacks and even pain – If used incorrectly, they can lead to  drug addiction.

Dr. Lim says that the public needs to change its’ perception about prescription drugs… many of which affect the mind, behaviour or mood much like street drugs. In fact, these priscription drugs can even be more addictive because most who become addicted never thought it would happen., after all, if their doctors prescribed it, how addictive could it be…

A national alliance of families, the pharmaceutical industry, patients, consumer groups, and drug abuse prevention advocates released a national strategy proposal to counter the continued rise in prescription drug abuse.

“Rising rates of prescription drug abuse are the result of a combination of factors and can only be countered successfully by a coordinated, multi-sector strategy,” said Michael Barnes, executive director of CLAAD, the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence.

 CLAAD’s National Prescription Drug Abuse Strategy, co-written with the Human Resources Development Institute, advocates a balanced public policy approach.
Recent reports note that prescription drug abuse surpasses the public abuse of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines, coming in “second” only to marijuana. Controlling the abuse of prescription medications is complicated by the need to keep such medications available for lawful use by patients and prescribes.

“Prescription medications are tragically under-prescribed for certain segments of society,” said Andrea Barthwell, M.D., chief executive officer of HRDI, the Human Resources Development Institute, one of the nation’s leading African American behavior health and human services organizations. “Women and minorities are dramatically less likely to receive prescription pain relievers than white men.”

The 2009 National Prescription Drug Abuse Strategy is available online.
Website: http://www.claad.org