Dozen medical professionals allegedly fueled the problem in Appalachia.
Over a dozen defendants across eight federal districts have been charged in connection with the illegal prescription and distribution of 5.1 million opioid pills, the Justice Department announced.
The various law enforcement actions were the result of the department’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force (ARPO), a multiagency approach that targets the unlawful prescription of opioid drugs across the Appalachian region. Over 75,000 Americans died last year due to overdoses of opioid drugs.
“The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with its partners to combat this epidemic and to seek to prevent the next tragic loss of life,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite, part of the Cincinnati task force.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the Justice Department as they address the opioid crisis.
- For Secretary Becerra to ensure proper guidance is available to healthcare providers regarding prescription drugs.
- For U.S. health professionals to be discerning in their prescribing of opioids.
Sources: CBS News, CNN
