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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40 thoughts onCanadians File Opioid Crisis Class Action Lawsuit
Good Day,
I too had been prescribed opioids for many years! After some years I began to hear about “opioid addiction”, however,I foolishly thought this to be BS because my Doctor, whom I trusted, hadn’t brought this issue up until the day I walked into his office and, in no uncertain terms, told him to take me off them! I informed him that I realized I was addicted when I tried to drop them on my own, I had NOOOOO idea what I was in for! It led to Methadone of course, the day I started Methadone I had 100% perfect teeth! I noticed most every other person there for methadone had no teeth, being a female that was ALWAYS extra particular over my appearance the very first question I had for the Doctor was ” I’m very worried about oral health, will methadone affect my teeth at all”? I was told by that doctor, verbatim, ” all those ppl in the waiting area with no teeth are that way because the didn’t come to me sooner! It isn’t the methadone, that’s a huge misconception! All those ppl had poor dental health due to their addiction to opioids, it’s NOT A RESULT OF METHADONE”!
This doctor went a step further, he asked to see my teeth, of course I obliged, I was proud of my teeth! He reassured me over and over, yet here I sit, in a basement now mentally & physically sick! I’m extremely depressed, I DO NOT/I REFUSE to leave this basement due to my dental health now! I cannot eat, every day that passes me by feels like an additional 10 yrs on my health & my appearance! I haven’t smiled in yrs, I do NOT visit family throughout holidays such as Christmas past, I’ve given up on all family traditions that involves me leaving this basement, and no, I allow nobody to visit me! I have even dropped my best friends, some I’ve had since highschool! All of my friends are beautiful women, even at 49 yrs old, they look no older than 30, but me, I look like I’m ready for a casket! I have gone as far as removing all my mirrors because I feel like I could possibly be just 1 quick reflection away from doing something that there will be no coming back from! I am petrified of mirrors because I am scared of my own face! There was once a time that I literally could spend all day looking at a mirror, trying different makeup techniques, new hair trends etc., I had hand held mirrors in every purse to ensure I ALWAYS had access to a mirror for makeup & hair checks!
Once upon a time there was a girl who deliberately smiled, every chance she got she smiled! That girl smiled at herself, she smiled at coworkers, she of course smiled at her family, she smiled for no reason! Once upon a time she smiled because she was happy!
Once upon a time there was a girl who smiled, she smiled because she could, like I said, that was once upon a time!
I’m asking for any information, legal advice etc on any existing class action lawsuits that I could possibly be part of too, and/or any judgements already in place with regards to financial compensation/help for dental care that may be currently available for people such as myself, and/or any class action that may be taken in the future, please? I thank you in advance for any & all information that you are able to provide me with!
With regards,
Angela
Like another person who posted I lost all of my teeth due to being transferred to the methadone program in spite of being assured that this would not happen. My previous fentanyl patches did not cause this to happen. Please include in any upcoming class action.