Foster: Investigating drug companies
New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster announced that his office has launched an investigation into the manner in which several pharmaceutical companies have marketed prescription opioid drugs in the state. According to a press release we received yesterday, the investigation was started after a review of preliminary information indicated that drug companies may have deceptively minimized the risk of addiction from long-term use of narcotic painkillers and exaggerated their benefits for treating chronic pain.
If true, said the release, the allegations of such fraudulent marketing could have misled doctors and patients and prevented them from making informed decisions about whether, when, and how to use these powerful drugs and might have caused the state to pay for potentially dangerous and unnecessary opioid prescriptions. Foster stated quote:
Rx misrepresented by makers?
“As is evident to medical professionals, law enforcement, and families across the State, we have an opioid crisis in which overprescribing of opioids has created a corresponding wave of abuse, diversion, and addiction, with tragic results for individual patients, their loved ones, and communities. The increased and widespread use, abuse, and misuse, of opioids has had a corresponding impact on the rise of the use of heroin, to which users turn when they can no longer obtain or afford prescription drugs. The cost in individual suffering and to health care and law enforcement has been, quite simply, overwhelming. We have a responsibility to understand and address its causes.”
The state’s Department of Justice has retained the law firm of Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll, which has substantial experience in this area, to assist in this investigation. Working under the direction of the Attorney General’s Office, the law firm will bring needed additional resources to handle an investigation of this size. Individuals who have information that might assist this investigation – medical providers, patients, or others – are strongly encouraged to contact Senior Assistant Attorney General James T. Boffetti at 6 0 3 2 7 1 0 3 0 2.
We’ve uploaded the A G’s release with additional specifics with this news read at Girard at Large dot com.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
Announces annual award dinners
The Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce will present La Carreta Mexican Restaurant owner Eddie Leon with its two thousand fifteen Citizen of the Year award at the organization’s Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 15, at the Derry Opera House. Chris Accashian, CEO at Parkland Medical Center, who will present the award to Leon said, quote: “From the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry to the Upper Room to the Derry Rotary Club to Derryfest to the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, Eddie supports our community in so many ways, not just financially, but with his time, his expertise, and his influence as well.”
Also at the annual meeting, The Granite House, a Derry organization that provides a safe and structured sober living environment for men recovering from drug addiction and alcoholism, will receive the Chamber’s 2015 Business of the Year award. Lauren Neves, Business Development Officer for Eastern Bank, who will present award said, quote: “Not only does The Granite House provide a critical service to our region especially in light of the state’s ongoing heroin crisis, it has also become a positive force for downtown Derry, having purchased and beautifully rehabbed the former Mariner’s Inn and adjacent property,”
The Chamber’s Annual Dinner is the organization’s signature event and attracts upwards of 200 members of the local business community to network and celebrate the accomplishments of the Chamber. The theme of this year’s dinner is “Oktoberfest” and will feature a German inspired menu from Tidewater Catering and beer from the region’s craft breweries. The event is open to the public. Additional information and tickets can be obtained at G D L Chamber dot org. We’ve uploaded their release with this newscast at Girard at Large dot com.
Open House and Yard Sale announced
There will be a big yard sale at the Robie’s Country Store Open House on October tenth from eight to two. There are sure to be some treasures available for sale. For those interested in participating, there spaces are still available. An eight foot space is only ten bucks. Robie’s is also accepting donated goods to sell to benefit the preservation effort. To reserve a space or arrange to drop off donated items, please contact Bob at 8 6 7 0 8 4 2 or send him an email to bob lee 100 @ a o l dot com.
New merchandise, yummy food on hand!
On hand for the event on the tenth will be Hooksett’s Lions and Kiwanis clubs, the town’s Fire & Rescue Department, and D J Bobby Dee’s Rock and Roll Caravan with Jim Peace to entertain all comers! They’re expecting to fire up the kitchen to feed the hungry masses as well and new merchandise will be available in the store, too. Be sure to mark your calendars! We’ve published their press release with all the specific details about who’ll be there doing what and why and linked to it from this newscast at Girard at Large dot com!
Bedford announces Trick or Treat
Merrimack Police Chief Mark Doyle has announced that the hours for “Trick or Treating” this year will be on the evening of Saturday, October thirty first between six and eight. He also announced that the Merrimack Police Department will be participating in the Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department’s annual “Halloween Fun Day” on Friday October twenty third at Wasserman Park. Those festivities will run from five to eight P M and Doyle’s encouraging town residents to stop by with their kids to show off their costumes. We’ve linked to the details from this news read at Girard at Large dot com.
