Many Houstonians are currently suffering from opioid use addiction and its consequences. The risk for relapse in opioid use disorder is high, and at times its repercussions can lead to significant fatalities and uneventful death.
Data indicates that in 2018, most drug overdose deaths in Harris County were related to opioid usage and overdose. In the US, drug overdose is the prime cause of accidental death. Before the opioid crisis in Houston reaches the epidemic level, the government and Houston health authorities are doing all they can to combat opioid overdoses.
When you or a loved one succumb to opioid overdose in Houston, it can be devastating. You may be clueless about what to do next. Emotional trauma, mental anguish, financial burden are some of the losses you may have to deal with. Therefore, it’s vital to understand your legal rights and seek the assistance of Houston opioid lawyers to help you recover from such losses.
Here’s a guide to navigate through the turbulent times following Opioid drug addiction or overdose and preserve your legal rights to seek payouts from parties who were responsible for the harm:
What are Opioids?
Doctors tend to commonly prescribe opioids to deal with pain. These drugs work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and hinder pain signals. Prescription opioids often lead to addiction over time. According to statistics, the majority of heroin addicts in Houston started with opioids usage. Since they serve as a gateway to addiction, overuse is a common phenomenon and leads to severe consequences.
The city of Houston and Dallas in Texas have filed several opioid lawsuits against drug manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies to highlight the crisis and spread awareness about the dangers of sustained Opioids drug usage.
The History of Opioids
The first Opioid drug that hit the market was Oxycontin, and it was introduced in the mid-1990s as a miracle drug to cure chronic pain. Since then, within the span of 20 years, it has developed around two million men and women in this country who are addicted to opioids. The CDC estimates that about 115 people die every day due to opioid addiction and overdose.
Why Do You Need to File an Opioid Lawsuit?
Opioid addiction can wreak havoc on your lifestyle, leading to serious complications. According to reports, the number of opioid overdose deaths in Texas has increased 4x times since 1999. The state ranked 12th in the country in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016 with 1,375, and second in the country for total health care costs from opioid misuse at almost $2 billion per year.
You should not grapple alone with your losses. You have the legal right to engage in a lawsuit for any wrongdoing. If you face the following consequences of opioid addiction, overdose, or death, you can recover compensation to the full extent of damages:
- Medical costs and treatment expenses
- Funeral or burial expenses
- Loss of earning capacity and financial losses
- Physical and Psychological pain
- Productivity Loss
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
How Can You File an Opioid Litigation?
The continuing saga of opioid addiction has seriously affected thousands of lives in Houston and millions across the country. If you are coping with opioid addiction or lost a loved one due to an overdose, it’s essential to know your legal options. Experienced Houston opioid lawyers can come to your rescue and help you file an opioid lawsuit. Here are some options:
File a Claim Against Healthcare Providers for Negligence
Depending on the extenuating circumstances, you can file a claim against the healthcare provider who originally suggested an opioid prescription. The lawyers can work with medical experts to assess whether the medication was required for your treatment and also investigate whether the doctor took all necessary precautions. They can examine the merits of your case to check whether the doctor discussed all options and informed you about the potential side effects of opioid usage.
Sue Pharmaceutical Companies for your Losses
Besides, you can file a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company that can be held accountable for your damages or injury. They can help you determine whether ambiguous marketing and inadequate safety measures resulted in losses and contributed to your condition. In recent times, the drug industry has been facing a tidal wave of opioid litigation in Houston and other states. Even the state and federal governments are seeking respite from pharmaceutical players to address the opioid crisis in the US.
The human cost and the toll of the opioid epidemic in Houston and states have been astronomical. In fact, Harris County has received more than 2-million grants from CDC to combat opioid overdoses.
Therefore, it’s vital to contact Houston opioid lawyers who have significant experience handling opioid litigation to take on big pharma and other healthcare providers. These lawyers know their way through the Harris County court system and provide the proper guidance to file opioid litigation.
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