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A class action lawsuit seeks to hold multiple pharmaceutical companies accountable for the Canadian opioid crisis.
The Canadian opioid epidemic class action lawsuit was filed by Dr. Darryl Gebien against companies including Apotex, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, and others.
Gebien says that he began taking an opioid after he suffered a ligament injury in his thumb. He says that he was prescribed Percocet.
Allegedly, the plaintiff became so addicted to Percocet after taking the drug that it took a significant toll on his life.
Gebien says he lost his license to practice medicine, and lost his job. He also claims that he was incarcerated and lost custody of his children, all because of his opioid addiction.
The Canadian opioid crisis class action lawsuit claims that all of the companies named as defendants market, sell, and distribute opioids in Canada.
According to the Canadian opioids class action lawsuit, opioids are a class of drugs that are made from a compound naturally found in the opium poppy plant, or made from a synthetic version of the compound.
Allegedly, some opioid drugs include Butorphanol, Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Meperidine, Methadone, Morphine, Normethadone, Opium, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Pentazocine, Tapentadol, and Tramadol.
Gebien explains that opioids are “powerful narcotics” that dull the perception of pain by binding to spinal cord and brain receptors.
Allegedly, the drugs are very addictive, and can give the user a “high” that is characterized by a euphoric feeling. Gebien says that if a patient uses the drugs over a period of time, they may develop a tolerance of the drugs.
If a patient develops a tolerance, they allegedly have an increased risk of becoming addicted, experiencing withdrawal, or overdosing. Gabien explains that the drugs can be fatal if used at higher doses, because they can slow a user’s breathing extensively.
Gabien describes the withdrawal symptoms of opioid use as including nausea, muscle pain, depression, anxiety, diarrhea, vomiting, restlessness, and chills.
The Canadian opioid class action lawsuit says that until the mid-1990s, they were largely not used for long-term use, because of concerns over their addictive properties.
However, in the 1990s, drug companies allegedly developed a marketing narrative to convince the public that opioids were not as addictive as previously thought, and that pain was under-treated. Allegedly, this was done to increase the sale and use of opioids, in the interest of profits.
The opioid crisis class action lawsuit says that because of this inaccurate campaign, many people began using opioids for long-term use and developed serious opioid addictions. Allegedly, these addictions have serious impacts on the lives of patients like Gabien, and in some cases, cost patients their lives.
Have you ever been prescribed opioids for pain management? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
Gebien is represented by Kirk M. Baert and Adam Tanel of Koskie Minsky LLP.
The Canadian Opioid Crisis Class Action Lawsuit is Darryl Gebien v. Apotex Inc., et al., Case No. cv-19-00620048-00cp, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Canada.
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39 thoughts onCanadians File Opioid Crisis Class Action Lawsuit
I have been taking large doses of (prescribed) hydromorphone daily for over 20 years now. Worst part about it is the stigma that goes along with it. ODSP won’t give more than 2 weeks of medication at a time, so no taking a vacation or anything like that. My doctor will retire soon, and I’m already stressing about having to go back to a wheelchair if my medication is suddenly cut off. They never told me this would consume the rest of my life at the time…I may have opted for a different route if given a choice. PLEASE ADD ME
Please contact me regarding opioid class action lawsuit, I want to be a part of this. My son was prescribed opioids in 2007 after a car accident. He has died of a fentanyl OD in 2018.
Our son just died on sept 15 2021 from a street fentanyl injection.He was 44.In 2009 my wife and son where in a car accident.The Doctor prescribed our son Hydromorphone 30 mils for eight years.He had financial and job problems.He ended up loosing his drivers licence for ten years.His new doctor got him onto methadone ad he started using street drugs.His problems continued and escalated to September 15 2021.He lived with us the entire time and we could not stop the horrific ending.Is there a class action lawsuit for families that have endured long term affects from these life destroying pharmaceuticals.
I had a severe injury in 2011 and was prescribed opioids took two years to get off them and three years till I could hold down a job and learn to cope alone with no drugs. I suffered from depression and anxiety but had been sober and at the same job for 5 years now.
Been on T 3 since 2013 and now I’m on hydromorphone .
I have had problems with opioids for years after being prescribed oxy contin after an accident. How do I sign up for some of these class actions?
Steve
Hi Steve, We are a class action firm reaching out to individuals regarding opioid class actions. I would be happy to talk at 416-824-9397 if you wish to give me a call.
I have been stuck on oxycodone since 2015 a major operation how does one join this lawsuit
I would love to get involved with this opioid lawsuit! My family has been in shambles since 2006. I was in a work place accident which resulted in multiple surgeries. previous to this, I had never taken a single pill for anything. Now it’s 2020, and I’m 12 deep in a methadone program trying to get away from the mess my doctor created for me. My spouse was in an accident in 2012-2013, and ran into the same situation. During her fall she ended up breaking her face, nose, jaw, teeth and wrist. After months of opioids, she started into a Suboxone treatment. After a brief relapse, she ended up in a methadone treatment program similar to mine. We have 3 children together. From being on methadone for 10+ years now, I’ve lost 90% of my teeth. My wife had her front knocked out in her fall, and then had the rest removed after 5years of methadone, due to the acidity burning through them. Unfortunately Being disabled (WSIB claims im disabled and is paying me till I’m 65, yet the Ontario Gov denied my Disability claim) and having no teeth is not a very good look that ALL company’s seem to overlook my AMAZING resumes and skills for. We now live off $21000 a year, and our rent is about $18000. If someone had told me in the beginning that this was what would become of my life and my spouse life, I would have laughed in their face!! Now, were just another pair of lost souls who have been financially and physically RAPED by these bastards. If they can’t get u hooked on their pills…. they will get you on your attempt to Better yourself by their ADDICTIVE recovery programs. If I knew then what I know now, I would NEVER taken methadone or sub. after going through the oxy/hydromorph withdrawal symptoms. Now I am right back where I was when I was put on pills. ITS NOT WORTH IT! That is the one thing that is conveniently left out. After you almost kill yourself getting off the pills, you think your doing something to help yourself, nope! You are just switching to a LEGAL drug dealer where you get JUST AS SICK if not Worse if you miss a day of treatment. My family, my children, my wife, and me, hope and pray every day that someone is held accountable for what has been done to us and all the others in our position.
I am happy to discuss my story and or help anyone to STAY AWAY FROM ALL MEDS/DRINKS from my personal experiences and the things I had to learn the hard way. Email is… Earths.watchman@gmail.com. Names Jeff. Go get them guys! drag these bastards off their high horses and burry them in the mud for us and everyone else affected!!!
In 2008 I was prescribed Fentanyl for a back injury that did not respond to other meds including morphine tablets. Nine years I spent on this and for many years it was 125 mg every three days. It paralyzed my stomach to the point I needed a feeding tube when that didn’t work I then got a pic line which then came with sepsis infection after sepsis infection. I take iv nausea meds just to be able to eat food.
Took many types of opioids since 1982 due to back injury. Types were tylenol #3, Talwin, fentanyl for 17 years. My life ruined by addiction. Three failed marriages plus mood swings, pain intolerance etc.. Normal life has never returned, I got myself off of these drugs 1 1/2 years ago but still have lingering problems with mental and physical attributes. Bad..bad.. chemicals that alter ones brain function forever and toll on rest of body is unmeasured